Sifuna Removed As Senate Deputy Minority Whip
Politics Updated: 16 July 2026 16:44 EAT
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Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been removed as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip, with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi officially announcing the leadership changes during a plenary sitting after receiving formal communication from the Minority coalition.
The changes saw Migori Senator Eddie Oketch appointed as the new Deputy Minority Whip, replacing Sifuna with immediate effect. The reshuffle is the latest in a series of leadership changes affecting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its parliamentary team.
Speaker Kingi told senators that the changes had been communicated in accordance with the Senate Standing Orders governing changes in parliamentary leadership. The Speaker subsequently directed that the House records be updated to reflect the new appointments.
Oketch, who is serving his first term as Migori Senator, now assumes the responsibility of assisting the Minority leadership in coordinating Senate business, mobilising members during debates and voting, and ensuring party discipline in the House.
Sifuna's removal comes weeks after ODM's National Executive Committee resolved to remove him as the party's Secretary-General, a decision that has since deepened divisions within the party. The senator has maintained that the move was irregular and has indicated he will challenge it through the appropriate legal and party mechanisms.
The latest Senate leadership changes further reduce Sifuna's influence within both the party and Parliament, where he has been one of ODM's most outspoken leaders on national governance and accountability issues.
Internal disagreements within ODM have intensified in recent months, largely over differing positions on the party's working relationship with President William Ruto's administration. Sifuna has consistently expressed views that differed from some sections of the party leadership regarding cooperation with the government.
Earlier efforts to remove Sifuna from the Deputy Minority Whip position had failed after a petition seeking his removal was withdrawn in favour of internal consultations. However, the latest decision formally ends his tenure in the Senate leadership.
The appointment of Eddie Oketch is expected to strengthen the Minority leadership as the Senate continues to deliberate on key legislative and oversight matters during the current parliamentary session.
The leadership reshuffle marks another significant political development within ODM as the party continues reorganising its parliamentary structures ahead of future political engagements and the 2027 General Election.
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