Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairperson Gladys Wanga has accused Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna of taking contradictory positions regarding the broad-based government arrangement.
Addressing grassroots delegates in Kisumu on Wednesday, February 25, Wanga outlined the origins of the broad-based framework, stating that Sifuna was instrumental in its formulation.
She disclosed that during his tenure as ODM Secretary-General, Sifuna drafted the party’s 10-point agenda at the direction of Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Gladys Wanga Accuses Edwin Sifuna of Double-Speak Over Broad-Based Government. Photo: Courtesy.
The 10-point proposal, crafted amid heightened political tensions in the country, later laid the groundwork for the broad-based government following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
On the question of the party leadership, Wanga addressed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s concerns over the legitimacy of Oburu Odinga as party leader.
She explained that following the death of Raila Odinga, she convened a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to chart the party’s direction.
The meeting was attended by, among others, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, both associated with the Linda Mwananchi faction.
According to Wanga, the NEC resolved that the party should retain the position of party leader.
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga was nominated and seconded to serve in an acting capacity before being formally installed during the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations in November 2025.
She further maintained that Sifuna, in his role as Secretary-General at the time, presided over Oburu’s swearing-in, and questioned why he is now challenging the legitimacy of the very process he supervised.
The county boss further claimed that when the party resolved to formally initiate pre-election negotiations with other political outfits, Sifuna failed to attend a crucial meeting despite reportedly being seen at the airport en route to Mombasa.
Wanga went on to note that he later cited flight delays as the reason for his absence.
She argued that what she described as repeated defiance of party positions and contradictory messaging ultimately informed the decision to remove him from the post of Secretary-General.
However, Wanga clarified that although Sifuna was relieved of his administrative role within the party, he remains a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
