Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has responded to his Nairobi counterpart, Edwin Sifuna, who previously stated that he cannot be the secretary general of a person he described as “mediocre”.

While speaking during an interview with a local media station aired on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader continued by questioning Sifuna’s consistency, asking if Edwin Sifuna believes he is a mediocre party leader.

“Then why is he fighting to be reinstated as a secretary general to a person he claims is mediocre?” Oburu questioned.

“We can’t have young people who are not disciplined; even saying that I am mediocre, and then he wants to be my SG,” the ODM party leader added.

He further blamed Sifuna for not following the required party channels, saying that when the Orange party organises a National Delegates Conference (NDC), Sifuna goes ahead to organise a parallel one. He also accused Sifuna of absconding from key party meetings, including Central Management Committee sessions.

Oburu Oginga further intensified his criticism, saying that Sifuna is not a pope who should be bowed to. He added that the disciplinary action Sifuna is currently facing is meant to send a message to the rest of the party that anyone within ODM can be disciplined, and there are no sacred cows.

He went on to insist that nobody is being expelled from the party, stating that all officials, such as Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and Sifuna, who were recently removed from their positions, remain members of ODM. However, he added that while they are still party members, they will not hold leadership positions.

Oburu Oginga questioned how they could hold leadership positions while contradicting decisions made at the party’s top leadership level.

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This comes days after the acting secretary general, Catherine Omanyo, also called Sifuna and his ODM rebels to order, telling them to respect the party leader.

“Whoever does not respect today the party leader is not in ODM because we were used to following what the party leader says, and we are still used to that because if we actually obey or respect the party constitution, then it dictates that the party leader finally whips us all,” Omanyo said.