Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political journey mirrors Kenya’s turbulent opposition landscape, marked by loyalty, electoral triumphs, and recent party fractures.
Once Raila Odinga’s unwavering ally, Sifuna now emerges as a vocal dissenter within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), challenging the status quo amid leadership transitions.
Born Edwin Watenya Sifuna in Kakamega County’s Mumias area, his early life blended rural roots with urban ambition. A Musingu High School alumnus, he pursued law at the University of Nairobi, joining the Roll of Advocates.
This legal foundation propelled him into activism, where he championed justice and public service long before electoral politics.
Sifuna’s ascent in ODM ignited in 2016 with a bold self-declaration as party Secretary General, ousting rival Ababu Namwamba.
He served nearly a decade in the role—first acting, then substantive—becoming Raila’s trusted enforcer. Through coalitions like CORD and NASA, Sifuna coordinated campaigns, navigated alliances, and solidified ODM’s street-level muscle.
Electorally, resilience defined him. Narrow losses in 2017 by-elections and the 2022 Nairobi Senate race against Johnson Sakaja preceded a resounding 2022 victory, securing the senatorial seat.
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As Deputy Minority Whip, he sharpened his combative rhetoric, railing against government excesses.
Tensions peaked post-2024 Gen Z protests, when ODM joined a “broad-based government” with UDA—a move Sifuna branded political conmanship, despite Raila’s endorsement.
Raila’s death
Raila’s October 2025 death amplified rifts; Sifuna clashed with leaders like Gladys Wanga at burial events, accusing them of betraying opposition ideals.
By February 2026, Sifuna’s eight-year SG tenure ended abruptly amid rebel rallies and factional purges. Ousted in a party vote, he decries the shift toward government alignment, positioning himself as ODM’s conscience.
