Mbadi cheers Sifuna’s ouster, blames him for undermining ODM after Raila’s death
By Mustafa Juma, February 12, 2026National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has welcomed the ouster of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of undermining the party and tarnishing the legacy of the late Raila Odinga.
Speaking in a televised interview on the night of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, Mbadi said he had grown increasingly concerned about Sifuna’s actions in the months following Raila’s death, arguing that they threatened the party’s unity and future.
“I am very excited that Sifuna has been fired as SG of ODM. I have been so depressed seeing what he was doing for ODM,” Mbadi said.
“If you’re claiming to like Raila and you want to destroy his party months after his death, it is not fair to his legacy.”
Mbadi warns ODM rebels
During the same interview, Mbadi also emphasised that senior party officials cannot defy party resolutions without consequences.
He made it clear that Sifuna’s ouster should serve as a lesson to other ODM rebels such as Siaya Governor James Orengo and Emabakasi East MP Babu Owino, whose recent actions have been labelled disruptive by party leadership.
“There are people who don’t hold substantive positions in the party. If they do hold substantive positions and their sentiments and remarks are causing disharmony in the party, then of course they should follow suit,” Mbadi said.
“But remember, Sifuna was not just any member; this was the secretary general of the party. The direction Sifuna had taken—any senior party official in this country who has taken such a direction has never remained in that political party. It was a waste of time expecting a miracle out of nothing, expecting that Sifuna would still remain in ODM; he wouldn’t.”
Mbadi further dismissed concerns about Orengo’s continued influence, noting that while Orengo’s “disruptive politics” are familiar to him, he would not be surprised if the governor eventually returned to the party mainstream.
“Orengo’s disruptive politics is something that I am used to, but I would not be surprised if he came back to mainstream ODM,” Mbadi said.
Sifuna’s ouster
The ODM party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) recommended the removal of Sifuna as Secretary General and appointed Catherine Omanyo in an acting capacity, subject to ratification by the National Governing Council and ultimately the National Delegates Conference (NDC).
The decision was taken during an NEC meeting in Mombasa on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. ODM announced that Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo will serve in an acting capacity until a substantive officeholder is elected.
“Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve SG @edwinsifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect,” ODM stated.
“Effectively, Hon. Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the Deputy Secretary Generals, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected.”