Sifuna removed as Senate Deputy Minority Whip, ODM names Migori Senator Eddy Oketch as replacement

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been stripped of his position as Senate Deputy Minority Whip days after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties approved his removal as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General.

The party has now appointed Migori Senator Eddy Oketch to take over the role with immediate effect.

Announcing the changes on Thursday, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the changes were made in accordance with the Senate Standing Orders governing the removal and election of Minority leadership.

“By a letter dated July 16, 2026, I received correspondence from the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Stewart Madzayo, regarding the removal of Senator Edwin Sifuna as the Deputy Senate Minority Whip and the election of Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch to replace him,” Kingi said.

The latest development came as Sifuna lost his bid to remain ODM SG after the ORPP approved his removal and updated the party’s official records.

In a letter dated July 9, 2026, Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou confirmed that the office had updated ODM’s records after finding that the party had complied with the Political Parties Act and its constitution.

“Upon review of the documents submitted by the party and the lack of response from Hon. Edwin Watenya Sifuna, we note that the removal of the party Secretary General was in line with the Political Parties Act Cap. 7D and the ODM party constitution,” the Registrar said in a letter addressed to ODM’s Deputy Party Leader, National Chairperson and Executive Director.

“This Office has effected the change and updated the party records.”

Sifuna, through his lawyer Isaac Okero, challenged the Registrar’s decision, saying the office ignored his responses and rushed the process.

Okero said they believed there was mischief in the Registrar’s actions and argued that the office failed to follow the procedures set out in law.

“Our client reads mischief in your letter and the hasty conclusion of the Section 20(1) processes. We further note that your effecting of a change in the party records omits the necessary processes under Section 20(2) of the Political Parties Act, rendering your action ultra vires, for which our client shall seek appropriate relief,” the lawyer said.

The lawyer also argued that the Registrar relied on an email address that did not appear on the office’s official letterheads while failing to consider responses sent to the official email address on June 30 and July 2.

Speaking at the ODM headquarters in Nairobi, Deputy Secretary General and Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo said the party had waited long enough for approval to remove members it considered to have gone against the party.

“We have waited for so long…we cannot have a person masquerading as an SG yet he is out there running his own agenda…we can now move on as a party, and he can as well go and form his own party,” Omanyo said.

Sifuna had openly opposed ODM’s cooperation agreement with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and maintained that the party should continue serving as a fully-fledged opposition despite the Memorandum of Understanding signed with UDA.

The changes also came barely a week after a section of Linda Mwananchi leaders from Western Kenya announced plans to unveil a new political party and back Sifuna for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.

The resolutions were reached during a meeting hosted by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and attended by Sifuna, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga and Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami, among other leaders.

“We resolve that Mr Sifuna will contest the presidency in 2027. Soon, we shall announce the party we will use to seek the presidency,” Natembeya said.

“We are going to launch vigorous grassroots campaigns in all 38 constituencies in Western Kenya to mobilise our people to register as voters and support our political agenda,” the governor added.