Kivutha Kbwana cautions ODM against purge targeting Sifuna, Babu Owino
By Joel Masibo, January 5, 2026Former Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana has weighed in on the widening rift within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), advising the party’s top officials against ejecting youthful members from the political outfit.
Taking to X on Monday, January 5, 2026, the renowned legal professor said the ODM purge targeting its Secretary General Edwin and the Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino, adding that their ouster will impact the Oburu Oginga-led political vehicle negatively. The two legislators have been regarded as rebels within the Orange party.
”Free advice: James Orengo, Anyang Nyong’o, Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino (aspiring to be Baba) are valuable assets in ODM’s progressive politics. Ejecting the younger two will injure ODM. As of now, ODM & UDA are the only national parties. Why bury ODM with BABA? Oburu Oginga,” Kibwana wrote.
Kivutha Kibwana’s remarks come at a moment when internal wrangles are threatening the unity of ODM heading into the next general election, with two warring factions differing on the current party’s direction regarding working with President William Ruto in the present broad-based government arrangement.
On the same, vocal political activist Kasmuel McOure has hinted that Edwin Sifuna is planning to unveil a new political party in March as cracks within the Orange party widen.
Taking to X on Friday, January 2, 2026, McOure also differed with the declaration of ODM on the party leader Oburu Odinga going for the presidency against President William Ruto should the political outfit decide to go solo in the 2027 general election.
He said that there are facts within the troubled ODM that Sifuna has failed to clarify based on his capacity amid bigwigs within the party washing dirty linens and trading barbs in public. He accused ODM of setting Oburu Odinga up for public ridicule by announcing his presidential candidature against Ruto.
”These are the facts the Secretary General ought to clarify. Instead, Sifuna is preoccupied with appeasing our detractors, as his camp prepares to unveil a new political vehicle in March,” McOure said.
”FOR THE RECORD Sifuna voted YES, Debated & lobbied to impeach Gachagua in 2024 from the Deputy President of Kenya position, this shows that he is an architect of deceit, hypocrisy and deceptive politics. Here is the evidence from the Senate Hansard. This week, ODM will remove him as the Secretary General, in the Senate, we shall remove him from deputy minority whip, and he will be free to join saboteurs of Broad-based government.” Cherargei took to X on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Meanwhile, in his latest public addresses, Edwin Sifuna has vowed to stay put in ODM despite the increasing calls for his ouster.