Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo has stated that Migori Senator Eddy Oketch had a moral right to table and withdraw a motion to remove Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.

While speaking during an interview aired on Saturday, January 10, 2025, Odhiambo said that Oketch, who was adamant about initiating Sifuna’s removal from the helm of the party over his recent stance on ODM’s political direction, had the right to move a motion against Sifuna and could also withdraw it if he deemed it necessary.

“Eddy has a right, if he was dissatisfied, to bring that motion, but he also has a right to withdraw it, the way he did, because he brought the motion and then he withdrew it,” she explained.

She went on to say that before Oketch withdrew the motion which would have seen Edwin Sifuna lose his SG position, the withdrawal was part of reconciliatory efforts initiated by ODM to bring the party together after the top leadership continued trading words.

Odhiambo added that she had the opportunity to sit down with Oketch before he withdrew his motion and had confided in her that he would indeed withdraw it to give room for dialogue.

“So I think it’s part of the reconciliatory approach that Eddy withdrew. I personally got an opportunity to talk to him before he withdrew the motion, and he said that in light of the ongoing reconciliatory efforts, he was going to withdraw the motion,” she said.

On whether she had influenced Oketch’s decision to withdraw the motion, Odhiambo clarified:

“I did not tell him to withdraw. As a leader, you can’t tell another leader to withdraw a motion. He talked to many people; he spoke to the party leader, and he spoke to me. I also saw Karoli Omondi saying he talked to him. So I guess he consulted widely before withdrawing the ouster motion against his Nairobi counterpart. I wouldn’t say somebody told him, but he sought advice based on the wisdom of talking to many people. It’s always good to consult before making such decisions.”

She further emphasised that conversations with a senator like Eddy Okech are about giving perspective and guidance, not issuing directives, and according to her, it was the case with the Migori senator.

“When we talk to a senator, it’s about giving perspective. It’s all about guidance, providing direction. I gave him perspective,” she said.

Withdrawal of the motion

This comes days after Senator Eddy Oketch withdrew the removal motion he had threatened against Edwin Sifuna, saying that he did so to create space for reconciliation and dialogue.

Calls for Sifuna’s removal as the party’s SG had escalated in recent weeks, with some members, including ODM Youth League Chair Samuel McOure, predicting doom for the vibrant SG who has led the party for almost a decade.