ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has secured a major reprieve after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) on Thursday nullified disciplinary proceedings that sought to remove him from office.
In its ruling, the Tribunal found that ODM violated Sifuna’s right to a fair hearing during the disciplinary process, rendering the entire exercise unlawful.
The decision hands Sifuna a temporary victory in the escalating battle over his position within the Orange party, where some members have been pushing for disciplinary action against him over his criticism of the party’s growing cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
However, the ruling is not a complete victory for the Nairobi Senator.
While setting aside the disciplinary proceedings, the Tribunal allowed ODM to restart the process, provided it complies fully with the law and observes the principles of natural justice.
The ruling means Sifuna remains in office for now, but the dispute over his future within the party is far from over.
The case has exposed growing tensions within ODM, with Sifuna increasingly finding himself at odds with sections of the party leadership over the direction of the party and its relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The Tribunal’s decision is likely to strengthen Sifuna’s position in the short term while piling pressure on ODM to ensure any future disciplinary action meets the legal threshold.
For now, the outspoken Secretary General can claim victory after successfully challenging a process that could have seen him pushed out of one of the most influential positions in the party.
