Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to address his grievances against party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, days after withdrawing a petition seeking Sifuna’s removal from office.
Speaking on Wednesday, January 7, Oketch said internal consultations within the party could not be allowed to drag on indefinitely, arguing that ODM members deserved clarity and stability.
The senator stressed that while dialogue with the party leadership was important, it could not be open-ended.
“We all have a stake in this party. Engagement with the party leader cannot be perpetual or endless. We are issuing an ultimatum that within the next one week, if this matter is not resolved, we must give party members a break and bring them out of the confusion,” Oketch said.
Oketch insisted that his dispute with Sifuna was not personal, but accused the Nairobi senator of abusing his position within the party.
“I read what I would describe as an excuse for mischief from our Secretary General. I have nothing personal against Sifuna, but he has placed himself in this moral position because he holds a very critical office, which he can use for his own political or even commercial survival,” he claimed.
On Tuesday, Oketch formally withdrew his petition that sought to remove Sifuna as ODM Secretary General. In a letter written by his lawyers to the ODM chairperson, the senator said the decision followed consultations with the party’s top leadership and was made in honour of the late Raila Odinga’s commitment to dialogue.
According to the letter, although the issues raised against Sifuna remain unresolved, Oketch agreed to abandon the petition in favour of internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in the party constitution.
The lawyers stated that Oketch opted to invoke Article 16(1)(g) of the ODM constitution, which empowers the party leader to facilitate amicable settlement of disputes through alternative dispute resolution processes.
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Oketch also urged the party leader to exercise constitutional authority to protect ODM and its members who were affected by the issues outlined in the withdrawn complaint.
In the original petition, the Migori senator accused Sifuna of gross misconduct, indiscipline, and actions he claimed undermined party unity and damaged ODM’s public image. He further alleged that the Secretary General had repeatedly violated the party constitution and national law over the past year.
Oketch also faulted Sifuna for publicly distancing himself from ODM’s official decision to work within the broad-based government, despite the existence of a formally endorsed agreement reflecting the party’s position.
In his initial demands, Oketch had called for firm action against Sifuna, including suspension, removal from parliamentary leadership positions, and possible expulsion from the party.
