Fresh details have emerged over the internal wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement, with Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi linking the push to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as party secretary general to a high-level meeting held at President William Ruto’s rural home late last year.
Speaking during an interview with political analyst Herman Manyora, Osotsi claimed that the decision to oust Sifuna was reached on December 27, 2025, during a gathering at the Kilgoris residence of William Ruto. Osotsi, who serves as ODM Deputy Party Leader, said all members of the party’s National Executive Committee attended the meeting except him and Sifuna.
“There was a meeting held on December 27, 2025, at Kilgoris, the home of President William Ruto,” Osotsi stated.
According to Osotsi, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed later informed him that the president had made it clear he did not want both Osotsi and Sifuna present at the meeting.
This, he suggested, raised serious questions about the intentions of the gathering and the direction the party was taking.
A faction of Linda Ground brigade led by Oburu Odinga during the past rally. Photo Courtesy if the Standard.
Osotsi further explained that the discussions went beyond Sifuna’s position. He said key decisions were made about the ongoing ODM “Linda Ground” meetings led by Oburu Odinga. He alleged that the planning and budgeting of those meetings were done in the presence of the president.
“Even the ongoing meetings you see across the country, the Linda Ground initiative, their organization and budget were determined there. The decision to remove Sifuna was also made during this meeting,” Osotsi asserted.
“This gathering was intended to be the Central Committee of the ODM party, yet only two key individuals were absent: Secretary General Sifuna and myself.”
“Why were we absent? Because, according to Junet, the President reportedly indicated that he did not wish to see us.”
Osotsi also claimed that a later Central Management Committee meeting in Kilifi, which resolved that Oburu would lead ODM’s pre-coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance, had its roots in the Kilgoris discussions. The United Democratic Alliance is the ruling party associated with President Ruto.
He added that there had been attempts to reconcile Sifuna and Junet. A meeting was scheduled at the home of ODM Treasurer Timothy Bosire, but Sifuna reportedly waited the whole day without the two leaders showing up. Osotsi said the president later advised Oburu not to continue engaging Sifuna on the matter.
The dispute has since deepened divisions within ODM. On one side is the “Linda Ground” faction led by Oburu, which supports working with President Ruto and backing his re-election bid in 2027.
On the other side is the “Linda Mwananchi” team led by Sifuna, which insists the party should field its own presidential candidate.
Sifuna’s camp argues that this position reflects the last known stand of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga before his passing.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has temporarily reinstated Sifuna as secretary general, with a final resolution expected later as the party prepares for the 2027 general election.