Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) has challenged the embattled Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General Edwin Sifuna to resign from the party if he believes in the spirit of the late Raila Odinga.

Speaking in an interview on a local TV station on Monday, February 16, 2026, Koech also dared the outfit’s deputy leader, Godffrey Osotsi, to also step down.

“In 994 after the demise of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila had a fight with Wamalwa over who was going to lead FORD-Kenya. Raila Odinga, on principle, noted it was impossible to be in FORD-Kenya. He also resigned as a Member of Parliament and contested on a new NDP ticket,” he said.

“I dare Sifuna, I dare Osotsi if you believe in the spirit of Raila, resign from the party, go and form your party or go and join another party that you think is favourable and contest.”

This comes as ODM faces a deepening crisis following the death of Raila Odinga in October 2025. The party, long held together by Raila’s towering presence, now confronts familiar risks of fragmentation.

Historical parallels with FORD are clear: after Jaramogi’s death, leadership disputes accelerated defections that weakened the party’s national appeal, while Raila’s departure with loyalists marked a turning point that FORD never fully recovered from.

Now the most popular party is in friction as they hold parallel rallies amid Sifuna and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga’s power struggle, even as Osotsi has accused senior party figures of working with President William Ruto to undermine the opposition party from within, warning ODM members to resist what he termed a hostile takeover.

ODM in a shipwreck?

He claimed he had previously raised concerns that ODM was being remote-controlled, and said recent events had reinforced his fears.

“I raised an alarm that ODM was being remote controlled,” Osotsi said.

Moreover, Sifuna still maintains that he is the faction’s SG despite the National Executive Committee ousting him.

“The NEC expressed grave concern over the rising levels of indiscipline within the Party, particularly at the senior leadership level. The Committee underscored that ODM is governed by its Constitution, the rule of law, and collective decision-making through its duly constituted organs,” noted the party in a statement read by Omanyo.

“Having deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the NEC resolved to remove him from office with immediate effect in accordance with the Party Constitution and applicable laws. Effectively, the Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo will act in this position until a substantive holder of the position is elected.”

Meanwhile, Sifuna secured a win after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) halted attempts to remove him from office.

The Tribunal stayed the implementation of a resolution passed by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on February 11, 2026, seeking to remove Sifuna as Secretary General of the party.

The Tribunal further barred the respondents from publishing the resolution in the Kenya Gazette, a critical step that would have formalised and effected his removal.