Kenya’s Political Parties Disputes Tribunal on Thursday temporarily blocked the Orange Democratic Movement from removing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party’s secretary general, issuing an emergency stay order one day after the party’s top decision-making body voted to oust him.

Tribunal Issues Emergency Stay

Acting tribunal chairperson Gad Gathu certified Sifuna’s application as urgent and ordered that the complaint and notice of motion be served on the respondents immediately. In his ruling, Gathu directed that the resolution adopted by ODM’s National Executive Committee on Feb. 11 be suspended pending a full inter partes hearing.

“That pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, inter partes, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues orders staying the implementation of the resolution made by the National Executive Committee of the Orange Democratic Movement Party on 11th February, 2026 to remove Edwin Sifuna as the secretary general of the party,” Gathu ruled.

“Whatever actions I take, I will do so knowing that I have never let down my leader, Raila. We shall fight for ODM; surrender is not an option for us. I remain a loyal member and the duly elected secretary general of ODM.”
— Edwin Sifuna, Nairobi Senator

Sifuna Calls NEC Decision Procedurally Flawed

In the application filed before the tribunal, Sifuna requested an exemption from exhausting ODM’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms and sought additional orders restraining the party and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties from publishing the NEC resolution in the Kenya Gazette. He also asked that any costs incurred be borne by the respondents.

Speaking at a press briefing in Nairobi earlier Thursday, Sifuna, a close ally of former Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga, insisted that he remains the party’s validly elected secretary general. He described the National Executive Committee’s action as a violation of established party procedures.

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“I was not given a chance to defend myself,” Sifuna said, adding that he remains fully committed to ODM and its founding ideals despite the resolution against him.

Next Steps: February 26 Hearing

ODM and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties were given seven days to file their responses, with a further three days granted to Sifuna to submit any supplementary reply. The matter is scheduled for mention on Feb. 26, when the tribunal will verify compliance and issue further directions.

The interim orders issued Thursday remain in force until then, effectively preserving Sifuna’s status within the party’s organizational structure while legal proceedings continue. The outcome of the case is expected to carry significant implications for the internal balance of power within one of Kenya’s oldest and most prominent opposition parties.