The Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury, John Mbadi, has urged the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to expel the party’s Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, for creating division.
Mbadi appealed to the leader of the Orange party, Dr Oburu Oginga, to convene the Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting to discipline Sifuna.
“Someone like Sifuna will not remain in ODM because already he is conflicted. He is now selling the agenda of someone else. Why are you pretending? You cannot keep him at the party,” the CS said.
Speaking on Sunday in Suba South, Homa Bay County, Mbadi alleged that the Nairobi senator and his group had defected to the United Opposition and that it was time to expel those who opposed the ideals of the party.
“If someone does not want to agree with ODM policies, that person should be left to go so that we know how many people he is leaving with,” he said.
Sifuna led the group, which called itself “Linda Wananchi”, to Busia County on Sunday. There, they argued that ODM was not allowed to make a pre-election deal with President William Ruto. With two factions forming and vying for distinct agendas ahead of the general election next year, there are concerns that ODM is about to undergo a significant split. While the Sifuna-led group, which includes Siaya Governor James Orengo, insists that they should run for president, another group, led by Oginga, is pressing for a pre-election agreement with UDA.
“ODM is a solid party. There is no way it will fail. It will remain solid the way Raila left it. Some people think we cannot play politics. We will, and we will ensure we talk to our people to remain steadfast in ODM under the leadership of Oburu Oginga,” Mbadi argued.