The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has allowed the Orange Democratic Movement to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against Edwin Sifuna but barred the party from making any final decision until his case before the tribunal is determined.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, April 9, 2026, a tribunal bench chaired by acting chairperson Gad Gathu declined to stop the internal disciplinary process triggered by a notice to show cause issued to Sifuna.
The decision clears the way for ODM’s disciplinary committee to hear the matter on Friday, April 10. However, the tribunal directed that no conclusions or sanctions should be reached until Sifuna’s application before it is fully heard and determined.
“To ensure fairness, we will not stay the internal process, but we will stay any determination arising from it until the tribunal delivers its ruling,” Gathu said.
Sifuna had moved to the tribunal under a certificate of urgency on April 7 seeking interim orders to halt the disciplinary proceedings. Through his lawyers, Sifuna sook orders halting disciplinary proceedings arising from a Notice to Show Cause dated April 2, 2026. He further wants the tribunal to bar both the ODM party and the Registrar of Political Parties from implementing or publishing any decision removing him from office in the Kenya Gazette. Sifuna argued that the decision to remove him was reached unlawfully and without being given an opportunity to defend himself.
Additionally, according to documents filed before the tribunal, he claims the allegations of misconduct were never listed as an agenda item during the NEC meeting where the resolution to remove him was reportedly passed. He maintains that he was neither informed of the accusations nor invited to respond before the decision was made.
The dispute arises from a notice requiring him to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee over alleged misconduct, accusations that had informed a resolution by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to remove him from his position as Secretary General.
With the tribunal’s directive, the disciplinary hearing may proceed but without any final outcome until the legal challenge filed by Sifuna is resolved.
