Harrison Kinyanjui: ODM risks losing Mulembe support if Sifuna is kicked out
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 6, 2026Advocate of the High Court and political analyst Harrison Kinyanjui has warned that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) risks losing the support of the Mulembe nation if plans to oust Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from his position as the party’s Secretary General are implemented.
Speaking during a morning show on a local television station on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, Kinyanjui said that ongoing calls and behind-the-scenes efforts to remove Sifuna could have devastating consequences for the party.
He cautioned that one of the most significant outcomes would be the loss of support from the Luhya community, which has remained loyal to ODM and its leader, Raila Odinga, for over two decades since the party’s formation.
Kinyanjui warned that removing Sifuna would create a perception among the Mulembe nation that their freedom of expression within the party has been suppressed.
He argued that such a move would signal that party members are no longer free to openly express dissenting views or challenge the party’s direction, a situation he said would force the community to reconsider its political alignment.
“I think if they do take that step, they should be wary. And I’m warning them, if you do take that step to kick out honourable Sifuna, the whole Mulembe nation will go. Absolutely, they will go because, you see, they will feel that you have railroaded us into a system or a position that we cannot, therefore, exercise our freedom of expression in.”
“We cannot even be able to tell you that you are wrong. You are taking us in the wrong direction.” Kinyanjui started
Sifuna’s removal
Calls for Edwin Sifuna’s removal from the Secretary General position have continued to grow in recent days, following his recent political activities that appear to lean towards the opposition.
His presence at a funeral in Murang’a County, during the burial of Embakasi North MP James Gakuya’s mother, seems to have unsettled influential figures within the ODM leadership.
Amid the growing controversy, the ODM Central Management Committee (CMC) is expected to convene later this week to deliberate on Sifuna’s conduct and determine whether it warrants disciplinary action or removal from the party leadership.
Kabuchai Member of Parliament Majimbo Kalasinga has also echoed similar sentiments, predicting a mass exodus of supporters from the Mulembe region should any action be taken against Edwin Sifuna.
Majimbo Kalasinga’s prediction
Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasingh has also predicted a mass exodus of the Mulembe region from the odm party should their son be touched
He emphasised that Sifuna’s voice represents national interests and warned that targeting him would be interpreted as an attack on the entire Luhya community.
“Ile mchezo imeanza kuonekana kwa chama ya ODM ati wamtoe Edwin Sifuna kwa chama ya ODM, ati wamtoe kwa nguvu ndio watajua Waluhya tuko pamoja. Sisi hatutaki kuskia anybody akichokora Edwin Sifuna. Edwin Sifuna anaongea sauti ya Kenya, anaongea sauti ya Waluhya, sauti ya Wakenya, na sauti ya wale walio finywa katika Kenya,” Majimbo stated.
The Kabuchai MP further stated that any Luhya leader who remains in ODM after Sifuna is forcefully removed would be considered a traitor.
He called on all Luhya governors, senators, and members of parliament to unite and resist any move to undermine Sifuna, adding that if provoked, they would chart a new political path together with him, insisting that the future would be brighter under Sifuna’s leadership.
“Guza Sifuna na yule mluhya ambaye atabaki kwa ODM ndiye atakuwa msaliti. All governors, all senators, all MPs, wakishika wachokoze sifuna muamke tukuwe na mass exodus from ODM, na pahali tu naenda tunajua. Wale viongozi ambao tuko viama vingine tutakuja pamojja na sifuna tutachukua Barabara yetu ambayo ni mpya na mbele kutakuwa kuzuri na Sifuna,” he added