By ALFRED MATAZA, July 16, 2026
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been removed from his position as Senate Deputy Minority Whip following a fresh leadership reshuffle within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), with Migori Senator Eddy Oketch appointed to take over the influential parliamentary position.
The changes were formally announced on Thursday by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who informed the House that he had received an official communication from Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo conveying ODM’s decision to reorganize its leadership in the Senate.
Speaking during the afternoon sitting, Speaker Kingi said the changes had been communicated in accordance with the Standing Orders and would take effect immediately.
“The Office of the Speaker has received communication from the Senate Minority Leader notifying the House of changes in the minority leadership. Accordingly, Senator Eddy Oketch has been appointed as the new Deputy Minority Whip with immediate effect,” Kingi told senators.
The appointment elevates the first-term Migori Senator to one of the key leadership positions within the minority coalition, where he will be responsible for coordinating legislative business, mobilizing senators during House proceedings and assisting the Minority Leader in managing the opposition’s agenda.
For Senator Sifuna, the removal marks yet another setback in what has been a turbulent period within the ODM party.
The Nairobi lawmaker has in recent months found himself at odds with sections of the party leadership after publicly expressing reservations over ODM’s growing cooperation with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) administration under President William Ruto.
His outspoken criticism of the party’s engagement with the Kenya Kwanza government is widely believed to have strained his relationship with the party hierarchy, culminating in a series of disciplinary actions.
Earlier this year, Sifuna was removed from his position as ODM Secretary-General before later being dropped from the Senate Energy Committee, one of the influential parliamentary committees responsible for oversight of the country’s energy sector.
The latest decision effectively strips him of his remaining leadership role within the Senate, leaving him to serve solely as the elected Senator for Nairobi County.
Despite the de-whipping, Sifuna retains his parliamentary seat and continues to serve in the Senate through his membership in the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), which scrutinizes the financial management of county governments, as well as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Political analysts view the latest reshuffle as part of ODM’s broader efforts to consolidate internal discipline and strengthen cohesion within its parliamentary ranks ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The leadership changes also come at a time when the party is navigating complex political realignments following its cooperation framework with the Kenya Kwanza administration, a move that has generated mixed reactions among party members and supporters.
Senator Eddy Oketch’s elevation is expected to inject new energy into the minority leadership. Since entering the Senate, the Migori legislator has built a reputation as an articulate debater and an active participant in legislative oversight, particularly on matters relating to governance, economic policy and public accountability.
As Deputy Minority Whip, he will now play a central role in coordinating minority senators during debates, ensuring attendance during critical votes and supporting the implementation of the opposition’s legislative strategy in the House.
Neither Senator Sifuna nor ODM party officials immediately commented on the reasons behind the latest leadership changes.
The reshuffle nevertheless underscores the continuing evolution of political dynamics within ODM as the party seeks to reposition itself while balancing internal unity and its evolving relationship with the government.
With the changes now formally communicated to the Senate, attention is expected to shift to how the new minority leadership team steers the opposition’s agenda during the remaining parliamentary sessions and in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
