Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has sparked fresh controversy within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), alleging a high-stakes internal “game” aimed at protecting Secretary General Edwin Sifuna from removal.
Taking to his X account on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Alai claimed that the original intent of the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) was to strip Sifuna of his powerful position.
He however alleges that the agenda was clandestinely altered to save the Nairobi Senator.
“Kuna MCHEZO ODM leaders seem to be playing here, and it’s just not right. The original intent of NDC was to remove Edwin Sifuna from the SG position,” Alai wrote.
Agenda tampering
According to Alai, the transition from a standard NDC to a “Special NDC” was a strategic move designed to bury resolutions previously passed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) regarding Sifuna’s removal from his position.
Somewhere along the way, someone changed the NDC to Special NDC, and the removal of Sifuna was taken off the agenda,” Alai stated.
“In fact, NEC’s resolutions removing Sifuna were rejected by those who seem to have made Sifuna their attack dog as they engage UDA.”
Blackmail and double standards.
Alai further alleged that the party is utilizing Sifuna as a tool for political leverage against the current administration.
According to him, Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino are being treated with “kid gloves” despite actions he characterized as destabilizing to the party.
He pointed to the disciplinary actions taken against other members, such as Senator Godfrey Osotsi and Senator Eddow Kibagendi, as evidence of a double standard.
“Osotsi and Kibagendi were punished, but nobody has touched Sifuna and Babu. Someone is using the duo to claim that they are still helping manage or contain them until the 2027 campaigns start,” Alai said.
Wanga on Sifuna and Babu Owino
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairperson Gladys Wanga defended the legitimacy of the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC), urging members, including Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino, to attend.
Wanga had noted that the Friday, 27, 2026, meeting at Jamhuri Park is the only official NDC recognised under the party’s constitution, dismissing any parallel gatherings as illegitimate.
“There is only one NDC called in accordance to section 49 of our constitution, a special delegates conference, a 21-day notice given, delegates invited,” Wanga stated.
“It will be at Jamhuri Park; anything else would be maybe a kamukunji, a baraza, a political rally, a birthday party, but there is only one NDC of the ODM party that will be taking place this Friday. The NDC is not something I wake up and say this is an NDC, it is called in line with the constitution of the party. Anybody else trying to spread confusion, it is only that, confusion.”
She had emphasized that both Sifuna and Babu are legitimate delegates and should participate in the meeting rather than stage any form of protest.
“Sifuna and Babu are members of the NDC. Sifuna, by virtue of being a Senator of Nairobi, is a delegate at NDC. Babu, by virtue of being a member of NEC and also MP for Embakasi, is a delegate at that NDC,” Wanga added.
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