Omanyo warns ‘no room in ODM for those disrespecting Oburu’ amid party cracks
By Emmanuel Rono, March 30, 2026Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has declared that loyalty to the party leadership is the defining characteristic of a member, stating that whoever does not respect the party leader is not in ODM.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Monday, March 30, 2026, Omanyo stressed that the party has a long-standing tradition of following the leader’s guidance, a practice that remains central to its identity.
“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.
Powers of party leader
Omanyo’s statement comes amid rising tensions following reports that the party’s embattled secretary general, Edwin Sifuna, referred to the leader as “mediocre”.
According to Omanyo, the party constitution itself grants the leader the authority to maintain order. She stressed that the party’s constitution dictates that the leader has the final word.
“The Party Leader unites and guides us all; anyone who cannot accept discipline and party direction is simply not an ODM member,” Omanyo noted.
The criticism against Sifuna was personal and sharp, with colleagues suggesting his behavior reflects a lack of basic moral grounding.
“That was very unfortunate. Actually, now it displays Sifuna as a badly cultured man, and I think his hippocampus in the brain is shrunken. He needs to be rejuvenated to remember the little instructions all of us got in Sunday school, respect. You have to respect your elders whether you like them or not,” Omanyo said.
Sifuna: I cannot be SG for mediocrity
Sifuna while speaking at a public rally in Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa on Sunday, March 29, 2026, indicated that he is not ready to serve as secretary-general under what he termed ‘mediocrity,’ implying that he is not willing to work with the current leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party under Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.
“Siwezi kuwa secretary general wa mediocrity. Mnajua mediocrity ni nini? Siwezi fanya kazi na Raila Odinga kwa zaidi ya miaka tisa alafu nifanye kazi na mtu kama Oburu,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna said that the two scenarios are totally incomparable, and that is where he stressed that he does not approve of the kind of leadership and orientation of the party.