When former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua told the embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna that he would be kicked out of the party, many dismissed the remarks as yet another political taunt.

At the time, it appeared like brinkmanship on the ever-shifting chessboard of opposition. But when Sifuna was formally removed from his position by ODM’s National Executive Council (NEC), Gachagua’s warning seemed less like theatre and more like foresight.

Although the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal temporarily suspended the decision, the dramatic development has set off an aggressive charm offensive from leaders aligned to the emerging United Opposition.

Their target is not just Sifuna the individual, but the faction within ODM that has resisted rapprochement with President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) outfit.

Sifuna’s troubles stem from his unwavering support for the Wantam narrative, a thinly veiled push for a one-term presidency for Ruto, and his insistence that ODM must retain a firm opposition posture.

His stance put him on a collision course with the Senator Oburu Oginga-led wing of ODM, which has shown openness to engaging the Kenya Kwanza administration. The internal dispute came to a head at the NEC meeting that voted him out, deepening cracks within the Orange party.

Opposition’s firebrands woo Sifuna

Sensing an opportunity, opposition figures have moved swiftly. Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, a close ally of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, publicly invited Sifuna to decamp to Wiper, a key pillar of the United Opposition coalition.

Maanzo lauded the Nairobi senator’s resilience, arguing that his political career was far from diminished.

“Sifuna should not be worried, and as part of the Azimio coalition, I invite him to cross over from ODM to the Wiper party,” Maanzo said.

He added that Sifuna remains a formidable force in Nairobi politics and predicted he would retain his Senate seat with ease.

People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua also weighed in, describing Sifuna as youthful, principled and well-versed in governance, crediting him with a strong performance as ODM secretary general and suggested he would strengthen any political formation he joins. While noting that Sifuna still has legal avenues to contest his removal, Karua hinted that his growing national profile could sharpen the opposition’s edge as the 2027 race begins to take shape.

From Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Embakasi North MP James Gakuya signalled that the United Opposition would gladly accommodate Sifuna’s camp, arguing that the fallout exposes fractures that could prevent ODM from delivering unified support to Ruto.

“No one will deliver the ODM party to William Ruto in full. There will be a faction led by Oburu that may easily move to endorse President Ruto, and there will be the other camp,” Gakuya said.

He further asserted that if the dispute ends up in court, Sifuna would have a strong case, maintaining that he remains the lawful secretary general and custodian of party instruments.

“At the end of the day, the party will remain divided into two,” he added.

The remarks show a broader strategy by the opposition toembrace the so-called ODM Young Turks, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, whose combative style and urban appeal resonate with younger voters.

Kalonzo’s offensive talk

Behind the scenes, Kalonzo is said to have been tasked with reaching out directly to Sifuna’s faction in coalition talks. Shortly after news of the ouster broke, he posted a cryptic solidarity photo with the Nairobi senator, a gesture widely interpreted as political signalling.

Yet Sifuna and his allies, led by Siaya Governor James Orengo, have dismissed the removal as irregular. They insist the NEC decision violated party procedures and vow to challenge it while retaining control from within.

Winning over Sifuna and his allies would inject fresh energy into its urban base and reinforce its anti-Ruto messaging ahead of a potential two-horse race in 2027. Gachagua has already hinted at flexibility in Nairobi through possible party zoning arrangements, signalling openness to cooperation with like-minded leaders.

Whether Sifuna ultimately stays to fight within ODM or crosses the aisle, his predicament has become a pivotal subplot in the country’s opposition politics, and a test of who can best capitalise on a party at war with itself.