ODM Cleared to Resume Disciplinary Case Against Secretary General Edwin Sifuna

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has said it is now free to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against Secretary General Edwin Sifuna after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) vacated interim orders that had halted the process. 

In a statement issued on Thursday, ODM said the tribunal dismissed Sifuna’s application, reaffirming that the party must first exhaust its internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking intervention from external adjudicative bodies. 

According to the party, the disciplinary process began on February 11, 2026, when the National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a resolution to remove Sifuna as Secretary General. 

 On February 26, Sifuna moved to the PPDT and obtained interim orders restraining the party from commencing or concluding disciplinary proceedings pending the hearing of his case. 

ODM said the tribunal, in a ruling delivered on March 26, dismissed Sifuna’s application and directed the parties to utilize the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IDRM), including its constitutional mandate to institute disciplinary proceedings. 

The party noted that before it could initiate the internal process, Sifuna returned to the tribunal seeking orders to stop the disciplinary proceedings.  

However, on April 9, the tribunal clarified that ODM could proceed with hearing and determining the disciplinary case, but could not communicate or implement any decision until the application challenging the IDRM process was determined. 

ODM said the tribunal has now dismissed Sifuna’s latest application, paving the way for the party to conclude the disciplinary proceedings. 

“Consequently, the Tribunal directed that the Party proceed with and conclude any disciplinary proceedings lawfully initiated against the Senator. All interim orders that the Senator had obtained were consequently vacated,” the statement said. 

The party described the ruling as a significant reaffirmation of the doctrine of exhaustion, which requires parties to first utilize internal dispute resolution mechanisms before turning to external judicial or quasi-judicial bodies. 

ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen said the decision underscores the importance of respecting and allowing political parties to exercise their constitutionally and statutorily recognized powers to manage their internal affairs in accordance with their constitutions and governing rules. 

Sifuna had not publicly responded to the latest statement at the time of publication.