The Orange Democratic Movement’s Parliamentary Group is scheduled to hold a critical meeting this morning at Parliament Buildings, where leaders will deliberate on internal disciplinary matters, including the continued dewhipping of MPs perceived to have strayed from the official party line.
The session, expected to begin at 9:00 a.m., comes amid heightened tensions within the party following several high-profile defections, public disagreements and votes that have seen some ODM legislators align with government positions on key legislation and motions. Party sources indicate that the primary agenda will focus on reinforcing discipline, reviewing the status of dewhipped members and charting a unified path forward as the country approaches the 2027 general election.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, who is also the Nairobi Senator, confirmed the meeting in a brief statement late yesterday. “The Parliamentary Group will meet this morning to discuss matters of discipline and cohesion,” Sifuna said. “We remain committed to ensuring that all members adhere to the collective decisions of the party as we prepare for the battles ahead. Unity is non-negotiable.”
The continued dewhipping of certain MPs has been a contentious issue since mid-2025, when the party leadership began removing select members from key parliamentary committees and leadership roles over their support for government-backed bills, failure to attend party caucuses or public statements contradicting ODM positions. Among those affected are legislators from various constituencies who have been accused of undermining party unity during debates on the Finance Bill, the Social Health Insurance Fund and other contentious legislation.
Party insiders say the morning meeting will review the status of the dewhipped members, hear appeals or explanations from affected MPs and decide whether to lift or extend the sanctions. “Some of those dewhipped have shown remorse and realigned with the party,” one senior ODM MP said on condition of anonymity. “Others remain defiant. The PG will make a determination on each case so we go into the next phase with clarity and discipline.”
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of ongoing national conversations about ODM’s future direction following the death of founding leader Raila Odinga in October 2025. With the party still navigating internal succession dynamics, the balance between hardline and moderate factions, and the status of cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration, discipline has emerged as a central concern for the leadership.
ODM Chairperson John Mbadi, who is expected to chair the session alongside Sifuna, has repeatedly emphasised the need for unity. “We are a democratic party, but democracy does not mean anarchy,” Mbadi said in a recent interview. “When members take positions that contradict collective decisions, they must face consequences. The dewhipping is not punishment for disagreement; it is enforcement of collective responsibility.”
Several dewhipped MPs have defended their actions, arguing that blind loyalty to party whips should not override conscience or constituency interests. One affected legislator said: “I was elected by my people, not by the party leadership. When a bill is bad for my voters, I have a duty to vote against it. Dewhipping is meant to silence dissent, not promote unity.”
The PG meeting is also expected to discuss strategies for upcoming by-elections, the party’s position on key national issues and preparations for the next national delegates conference. Sources indicate that a decision on whether to lift the dewhipping of certain members could be announced immediately after the session, while broader disciplinary reforms may be deferred to the full party conference later in the year.
The outcome of today’s deliberations will be closely watched both within ODM and across the political divide. A reaffirmation of strict discipline could strengthen the party’s negotiating position and internal cohesion, but risks further alienating moderate or independent-minded MPs. A softening of sanctions, on the other hand, might signal flexibility but could be interpreted as weakness by opponents.
As the Parliamentary Group convenes this morning, the meeting represents more than routine housekeeping—it is a litmus test of ODM’s ability to maintain unity and authority in a post-Raila era marked by generational pressures, ideological debates and electoral calculations.
