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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga has revealed that his late brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, had grown frustrated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and was keen on pushing him out as the party’s Secretary General.
Speaking during an interview on Check Mate aired on Hot 96 FM and hosted by Emmanuel Too on Saturday, April 18, 2026, Oburu said Raila was unhappy with Sifuna’s conduct in the months leading up to his death on October 15, 2025.
“What I knew is that Raila was not happy with what Sifuna was doing,” Oburu said.
He cited an incident in Kakamega where Sifuna allegedly embarrassed the ODM leader during a public event after a group of youths disrupted the meeting with chants, forcing Raila into an awkward position.
“Raila had no option but to defend Sifuna’s democratic right, yet you could see the embarrassment he was in,” he said.
Oburu Oginga Warning Sifuna
Oburu added that he confronted Sifuna shortly after the incident, warning him against overestimating his political importance.
“We have seen many like you in our political life, and we know where they normally end,” he said, adding that Raila was “fed up to the neck” with the senator.
The remarks come after claims by Raila’s lawyer, Paul Mwangi, that the late ODM leader used two political options whenever he entered into agreements.
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Mwangi said Raila had two groups within the Orange Democratic Movement, one focused on negotiations and another, a more aggressive group that would act as a backup plan if deals, including those involving President William Ruto, failed.
He claimed the group linked to Edwin Sifuna was part of that backup plan, which was to be used as an exit strategy, allowing Raila to keep his options open.
However, Oburu Odinga dismissed the claims, saying Mwangi did not understand Raila’s political decisions.
“I don’t know Mwangi in politics. I only knew him as Raila’s lawyer,” he said. “I was involved in Raila’s strategies, and I don’t remember such plans. If they existed, he would have told me.”
ODM Leader Says Party Will Find Senator Osotsi’s Replacement Very Soon
Oburu insisted that Raila’s issues with Sifuna were not part of any strategy, but were due to dissatisfaction with his conduct in the party.
At the same time, the ODM leader said the party will soon name a replacement for Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who previously served as one of the deputy party leaders in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
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Osotsi was removed from the position during a Special Delegates Convention held at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi on March 27, 2026.
During the meeting, party delegates were tasked with confirming officials. However, when the position of Deputy Party Leader came up, no one nominated or seconded Osotsi’s name.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed then announced that Osotsi would be dropped due to lack of support, a move that was approved by the delegates.
As a result, Osotsi was officially removed from the party leadership role.
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ODM Party leader Dr Oburu Odinga, flanked by party members including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Acting ODM Secretary General Catherine Omanyo, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, and other leaders. PHOTO/ODM