Babu Owino, Sifuna Cry Foul Over ODM Convention Amid Police Standoff
Politics Updated: 27 March 2026 15:19 EAT
Photo Credit: The Standard on X
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has condemned what he described as heavy police deployment and attempts to disrupt a rival “Linda Mwananchi” gathering in Nairobi, as divisions within the Orange Democratic Movement escalated.
The lawmaker accused security agencies of interfering with the meeting, saying officers tried to block or frustrate proceedings linked to the faction opposed to the party’s ongoing Special Delegates Convention (SDC).
The “Linda Mwananchi” wing, associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other dissenting leaders, organised parallel activities in defiance of the official party convention held at Jamhuri Grounds.
Tensions rose as police maintained a strong presence around the venues, with reports indicating attempts to disrupt the parallel meeting as leaders pushed ahead with their agenda.
Babu Owino and his allies have termed the ongoing SDC illegitimate, insisting it does not reflect the will of the party grassroots and warning against what they describe as procedural irregularities.
Sifuna escalated the dispute by accusing President William Ruto of orchestrating a takeover of ODM through allied figures within the party leadership.
The claims come amid a deepening internal rift, with one camp backing the convention that endorsed leadership changes, including the elevation of Oburu Odinga within the party hierarchy.
The rival faction maintains that the process undermines internal democracy and reflects a broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
The dispute follows months of infighting within ODM, including attempts to remove Sifuna as secretary-general, a move that has been contested through party structures and legal channels.
Political analysts say the standoff signals a critical moment for ODM, with competing factions openly confronting each other over control of the party’s leadership and future direction.
Tags: Article Babu Owino Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice Edwin Watenya Sifuna Odm ODM One Term One term Politics Sifuna Signs Media Kenya Limited Delegates Convention Godfrey Osotsi Godfrey Osotsi Osotsi Political Parties Political Science Special Delegates Convention
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