Siaya Governor James Orengo has demanded that President William Ruto stop interfering in the internal affairs of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), claiming the President is responsible for the growing turmoil within the opposition party.
Speaking on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Siaya governor told the President to let ODM be, claiming he had previously warned the President against interfering with political parties.
”The problem in ODM is President Ruto. We are asking President Ruto to let ODM go, let ODM alone,” Orengo said.
Orengo alleged that the President had convened ODM meetings while excluding key party officials, including Sifuna and Godfrey Otsotsi, citing meetings in Kilgoris and countless others in State House.
The Siaya Governor further accused Ruto of effectively “taking hostage” the opposition party by influencing its internal processes and meetings.
Speaking during a press conference held in solidarity with the recently ousted ODM Secretary General, James Orengo, maintained that Edwin Sifuna is still the party’s legitimate spokesperson.
”The Secretary-General of Raila’s party, ODM, is one Edwin Sifuna,” Orengo declared, adding that Sifuna has served the party for nearly a decade and managed party affairs through the 2017 and 2022 election cycles without public rebuke from then ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Dismissing attempts by ODM National Executive Council (NEC) to undermine Sifuna’s authority, Orengo criticized the ODM NEC as lacking national legitimacy for questioning Sifuna’s leadership, saying Sifuna continues to speak for the party.
The NEC converged in Mombasa on February 11, 2026, where it deliberated on matters relating to the conduct of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, before resolving to remove Sifuna from ODM.
NEC appointed Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omayo to replace him, elevating her from her previous role as Deputy Secretary General.
Sifuna, and the ODM faction allied to him, who were opposed to the prospect of a UDA-ODM coalition, had begun a movement called ‘Linda Mwananchi’ tour, which visited Busia to much fanfare.
Sifuna and his ODM allies vowed to follow internal channels to address the ousting, with the potential to escalate to legal alternatives if need be.
