A political showdown is now heated following ODM's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Mombasa that suspended SG Sifuna.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi a long-time party stalwart has finally broken his silence on the ousting of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from the powerful Secretary General post.
Appearing on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Mbadi has not held back, painting a picture of a leadership transition that has been simmering with tension for years.
According to the CS, Sifuna was never the preferred choice of the party’s grassroots or the Western delegates.
Mbadi has revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes secret from the time Sifuna was appointed.
He has claimed that during a high-stakes meeting with the late Raila Odinga, the consensus was actually leaning toward veteran activist Wafula Buke.
"We sat with Baba and agreed. The favorite was Wafula Buke. The Western delegates did not want to hear of Sifuna at Orange House," Mbadi has remarked.
However, in a classic display of Raila’s strategic autonomy, he defiantly and eventually settled on Sifuna, believing the party needed a strong and vocal personality to navigate the political storms of the time.
The CS has expressed deep depression over Sifuna’s recent conduct, accusing him of acting in defiance of the party’s new leadership under Dr. Oburu Oginga.
The CS has argued that Sifuna’s rebel stance particularly his criticism of the ODM-UDA partnership was now becoming a direct threat to the legacy Raila left behind.
For Mbadi, the removal isn't just a disciplinary matter; it was a necessary surgery to keep the party united months after the passing of its founding father.
With Sifuna out and Catherine Omanyo stepping in as acting SG, the orange house seems to be undergoing a radical realignment.
Whether this brings stability or triggers a fresh fallout remains to be seen.