Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo has stated that she has been forced to beef up her security after assuming the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party’s secretary general in an acting capacity.

While speaking during a radio interview on Sunday, April 11, 2026, she stated that after assuming the role, public hostility towards her also escalated, including from people she does not know, especially following the recent ODM Special Delegates Conference (SDC), forcing her to seek extra security from the National Assembly clerk.

She stated that she requested three more disciplined officers to be added to her security team.

“I have been forced to beef up my security. I was even forced to run to the National Assembly clerk to ask for more security, especially towards SDC. I told him I needed more security, and I was given three more officers,” she said.

She continued stating that after replacing Edwin Sifuna, she has now been forced to become extra alert and keen to details, something that was not the case when she was serving as ODM’s deputy secretary general.

Sifuna-Omanyo relationship

With her having taken over the role once held by Edwin Sifuna after a dramatic ouster, she stated that, despite all this, she has no personal vendetta against her predecessor.

The outspoken woman representative emphasised that despite the internal wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that saw her elevated to serve as acting secretary general in Sifuna’s absence, their relationship remains professional and cordial.

She dismissed any claims of a feud or conflict between her and the Nairobi senator, noting that the last time they were scheduled to meet and speak was about two months ago, when they warmly exchanged greetings.

She added that many people have wrongly concluded that there is a personal vendetta between them due to the ongoing political developments within ODM, which she strongly denied.

“People want to imagine that I am an enemy of Sifuna. Sifuna is my friend; he is my brother. We have never been at war; I just happen to be in his shadows,” Omanyo clarified.

Omanyo further stated that their differences are mainly based on party opinions and political positions within ODM and not personal issues. She insisted that there is no animosity between them at a personal level.

Sifuna’s ouster

This comes days after Sifuna, who had been ousted from his position as secretary general and replaced with Catherine Omanyo, had his case quashed by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which referred the matter back to the party to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanism, saying that it did not have the mandate to hear the case.

Sifuna, on his side, has maintained a hardline stance, saying that he will not serve as secretary general under what he termed ‘mediocre leadership’ like that of the current ODM party leader Oburu Odinga.

He stated that he could not serve as secretary general under someone like Raila Odinga for nine years and later work under Oburu Odinga, whom he views as more junior to his former boss. He told Oburu to look for his own secretary general, stating that he would not serve in that role.