Who Is Catherine Omanyo? Profile of ODM’s New Secretary General
Catherine Omanyo has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following the removal of Edwin Sifuna from the position.
The announcement was made on 11 February 2026 after the party’s National Executive Committee resolved to end Sifuna’s eight-year tenure. Omanyo, who had been serving as Deputy Secretary General, now assumes responsibility for ODM’s administrative operations at a critical stage in its preparations for the 2027 elections.
Born in Busia in 1970, Omanyo’s early life was marked by hardship after the death of her father when she was fourteen. Her mother’s decision to reject widow inheritance left the family isolated, and Omanyo struggled to pursue education until she secured a scholarship to the University of Nairobi in 1998. While studying, she worked in low-paying jobs to support herself, an experience that later inspired her commitment to education for disadvantaged children.
In 2001, she established Imprezza Academy in Nairobi, which later became the International School for Champions in Busia. The institution provides tuition-free education to orphans and underprivileged children near the Kenya-Uganda border.
Her political career began with unsuccessful bids for parliamentary seats in 2007, 2013, and 2017. She achieved her breakthrough in 2022 when she was elected Busia Woman Representative on an ODM ticket. Since then, she has used the National Government Affirmative Action Fund to implement projects such as drilling boreholes, building homes for widows, and leading campaigns on menstrual health and jigger eradication.
Omanyo has been recognised in national polls as one of the top-performing women representatives, praised for her resource mobilisation and community-focused initiatives. However, she has also faced criticism over the distribution of resources, an issue that may continue to challenge her in her new role.
