Edwin Sifuna Leads ODM Breakaway Faction Rally in Kitengela Amid Rising Party Tensions
Politics Updated: 15 February 2026 22:47 EAT
Embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna pulls masses in Kitengela 'Linda Mwananchi' campaign rally
Kitengela town in Kajiado County witnessed a dramatic political showdown as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna spearheaded a rally organised by a breakaway faction of the Orange Democratic Movement. The gathering, held under the “Linda Mwananchi” banner, drew thousands of supporters and signalled a deepening split within the opposition party.
The event attracted a cross-section of residents, including youth groups and local traders, who turned up in large numbers along the Nairobi–Namanga corridor. The crowd’s presence disrupted normal business activity and traffic flow, underscoring the weight of the mobilisation by the dissenting wing.
Sifuna was flanked by senior leaders allied to the breakaway team, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. The leaders presented a united front, projecting the faction as a reformist alternative within ODM.
Speakers at the rally criticised what they described as the party’s drift from its founding ideals, accusing sections of the leadership of aligning too closely with the government. They positioned their movement as a corrective force aimed at reclaiming ODM’s opposition identity.
The breakaway leaders also took aim at the national administration under President William Ruto, faulting it over economic hardship, governance issues and shrinking political space. They framed the Kitengela rally as part of a broader resistance campaign intended to amplify grassroots voices.
However, the rally was cut short after anti-riot police moved in and dispersed the crowd using tear gas. The sudden intervention triggered panic, with supporters fleeing the venue as clouds of gas filled the air.
In the aftermath, Sifuna and his allies condemned the disruption, terming it an attempt to silence dissent. They maintained that the meeting had been peaceful and lawful, and vowed to continue the mobilisation drive across other counties.
The Kitengela episode lays bare the widening rift within ODM, with the breakaway faction seeking to consolidate support outside formal party structures. The public rallies are increasingly becoming a battleground for legitimacy between rival camps.
Analysts note that the turnout demonstrates the faction’s ability to mobilise significant numbers, a factor that could influence internal party negotiations and future alignments. The optics of large crowds may strengthen the breakaway team’s bargaining power.
For ODM’s mainstream leadership, the growing visibility of the dissenting bloc presents a strategic challenge. Managing the split without fracturing the party ahead of the 2027 elections will require delicate political navigation.
At the national level, the confrontation in Kitengela adds to mounting political pressure on the government, particularly regarding the handling of opposition gatherings. Questions around freedom of assembly and state response are likely to dominate political discourse in the coming days.
As political temperatures continue to rise, the Kitengela rally stands as a clear indicator that ODM’s internal contest is no longer confined to boardrooms but is now playing out before the public, with significant implications for the broader opposition landscape.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD