Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has lost his position as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip. The decision comes just days after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) approved his removal as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The party has swiftly appointed Migori Senator Eddy Oketch to take over the whip role, effective immediately.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced the leadership changes on Thursday, July 16, 2026, confirming they align with the Senate Standing Orders that govern the removal and election of the minority leadership.
“By a letter dated July 16, 2026, I received correspondence from the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Stewart Madzayo, regarding the removal of Senator Edwin Sifuna as the Deputy Senate Minority Whip and the election of Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch to replace him,” Kingi said.
The legislative shake-up represents a double blow for Sifuna, who failed in his bid to remain the ODM Secretary General after the ORPP updated the party’s official records to reflect his ouster. In a letter dated July 9, 2026, Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou confirmed that his office had modified ODM’s official registry, noting that the party had complied with both its own constitution and the Political Parties Act.
“Upon review of the documents submitted by the party and the lack of response from Hon. Edwin Watenya Sifuna, we note that the removal of the party Secretary General was in line with the Political Parties Act Cap. 7D and the ODM party constitution,” the Registrar wrote. “This Office has effected the change and updated the party records.”
Sifuna, however, is not going down without a fight. Through his lawyer, Isaac Okero, the Nairobi Senator challenged the decision, claiming the Registrar ignored his formal responses and rushed the entire process. Okero argued that the Registrar failed to follow the procedural steps set out in law, calling the actions “ultra vires” (beyond legal power).
“Our client reads mischief in your letter and the hasty conclusion of the Section 20(1) processes. We further note that your effecting of a change in the party records omits the necessary processes under Section 20(2) of the Political Parties Act, rendering your action ultra vires, for which our client shall seek appropriate relief,” Okero warned.
The defense team also pointed out a technical oversight, claiming the registrar relied on an unofficial email address not found on the office’s official letterheads while ignoring Sifuna’s actual responses sent to the official email address on June 30 and July 2.
On the other side of the political divide, ODM officials made it clear that they had run out of patience. Speaking at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi, Deputy Secretary General and Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo welcomed the Registrar’s decision, saying the party needed to move forward without members who work against its collective interests.
“We have waited for so long…we cannot have a person masquerading as an SG yet he is out there running his own agenda…we can now move on as a party, and he can as well go and form his own party,” Omanyo said.
The post Sifuna Loses Senate Deputy Minority Whip Post After ODM Ouster appeared first on Bossnana.
