By Peter John

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has returned to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), seeking urgent orders to block his removal as Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In a fresh application filed under a certificate of urgency, Sifuna is asking the tribunal to suspend the implementation of a resolution allegedly passed by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on February 11, 2026, which sought to remove him from office over claims of misconduct.

Through his lawyers, he is also seeking to halt any disciplinary proceedings stemming from a Notice to Show Cause dated April 2, 2026.

Additionally, he wants the tribunal to bar ODM and the Registrar of Political Parties from effecting or publishing any decision removing him in the Kenya Gazette.

Sifuna argues that the decision to oust him was unlawful, claiming he was neither given prior notice nor an opportunity to defend himself. He says this violates constitutional provisions on fair administrative action and political rights.

According to court documents, the senator maintains that the allegations of misconduct were never listed as an agenda item during the NEC meeting.

He further claims he was not informed of the accusations or invited to respond before the decision was reached.

He also accuses the party of acting in bad faith, terming the disciplinary process “predetermined.” Sifuna points to the issuance of a show-cause letter alongside a scheduled hearing date as evidence that the outcome had already been decided.

The ODM Secretary General further faults the party for giving him only four days to respond to what he describes as vague accusations issued over the Easter holiday period, arguing that the timeline is unreasonable and undermines his right to a fair hearing.

The move comes after the tribunal previously struck out his initial complaint for lack of jurisdiction, directing him to first exhaust the party’s Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRM).

However, Sifuna now claims the party has frustrated that process, rendering it ineffective.

He warns that unless the tribunal intervenes, ODM may proceed to formally gazette his removal—an action he argues would be unlawful and lead to misuse of public resources.

Sifuna is now urging the tribunal to assume jurisdiction and grant interim orders preserving his position pending the hearing and determination of the case. The matter is expected to be mentioned urgently before the PPDT.

The dispute arises after ODM initiated disciplinary proceedings against him over alleged gross misconduct.

In a show-cause letter dated April 2 and signed by ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Sifuna is accused of publicly contradicting party positions and resolutions.

The party cites his appearances on Citizen TV’s The Explainer programme on July 22, 2025, and February 3, 2026, where he allegedly made statements inconsistent with ODM’s official stance, including declaring the ODM-UDA broad-based arrangement “dead.”

ODM further accuses him of issuing contradictory statements despite participating in internal meetings where party positions were agreed upon, actions it says have caused confusion and undermined the party.

He is also accused of engaging in unsanctioned political activities under the Linda Mwananchi Initiative, which the party claims fall outside its officially approved programmes.

Additionally, the letter cites his alleged failure to attend key party meetings, including a Central Committee meeting held on January 12, 2026, and NEC meetings on February 11 and March 4, 2026.

The party directed Sifuna to respond to the show-cause letter by April 8 and to appear before a disciplinary panel on April 10, 2026, to defend himself.