Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has claimed he and his allies were removed from the ODM leadership WhatsApp group after their political tour of Kitale, saying the move is the clearest indication yet that the party leadership has sidelined them.
Sifuna said the fallout extends beyond the messaging platform, alleging that planned changes to Senate committee leadership show the party has turned against leaders perceived to be critical of its recent political direction.
"I remember on Saturday when we finished our rally in Kitale, I just saw all of us being removed from the ODM WhatsApp group. It's not me who's leaving. They kicked us out. All of us," Sifuna said during an interview on Citizen TV.
Sifuna also revealed that a motion has been tabled in the Senate to remove Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi as chairperson of the County Public Investments Committee (CPIC), while he is set to lose his seat on the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).
"It is clear that those in the ODM leadership are done with us. There is a motion that was brought to the Senate to effect further changes to remove Senator Osotsi as the chair of the County Public Investments Committee. They're going to remove me from the County Public Accounts Committee. They're sending me to the Fisheries Committee, which they think is a punishment. But I actually need to learn about agriculture and fisheries and the blue economy because of the coming assignments," Sifuna said.
He argued that his removal from the WhatsApp group reflects a broader effort to edge out leaders who have questioned the party's current political direction.
The developments come after Sifuna was removed from the Senate Minority leadership and replaced by Homa Bay Senator Eddy Oketch in a wider committee reshuffle.
Under proposals submitted by the Minority Whip on Monday, July 27, Sifuna was also dropped from the County Public Accounts Committee.
The changes form part of a broader reorganisation of the Senate's minority leadership that has affected several ODM legislators, following earlier political realignments within the party that saw Sifuna removed as Senate Deputy Minority Whip.