Tribunal Blocks ODM Bid to Oust Sifuna Over Procedural Flaws
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has ruled that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) did not follow proper procedure in its attempt to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Tribunal Chair Gad Gathu said ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) failed to observe key requirements of procedural fairness when it resolved to remove Sifuna from office. The tribunal found that the senator was not informed that his conduct would be discussed during the meeting and was not given an opportunity to prepare and present a defence.
The tribunal held that the NEC’s resolution could not be upheld because it was reached without giving Sifuna a fair hearing. However, it distinguished between the procedural shortcomings and the substance of the disciplinary case. The panel noted that Sifuna had not challenged ODM’s authority to discipline him, but rather the process used to initiate the action.
The tribunal further stated that Sifuna’s objections regarding alleged bias within the disciplinary panel and claims of bad faith surrounding a notice to show cause issued on 2 April 2026 should be addressed through ODM’s internal disciplinary mechanisms. It reaffirmed that political parties have the right to manage their affairs and enforce their constitutions, provided they act within the law.
The panel directed Sifuna to participate in the ongoing disciplinary proceedings and stated that ODM is free to continue the process through its established structures. It added that if he is dissatisfied with the final outcome, he may return to the tribunal for further redress.
The tribunal declined to issue broader orders preventing the party from proceeding with disciplinary action. Instead, it limited its intervention to ensuring compliance with procedural requirements.
