The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has made changes to its Senate leadership, removing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Deputy Senate Minority Whip and appointing Migori Senator Eddy Oketch as his replacement.
The changes were announced on Thursday, July 16, after Senate Speaker Amason Kingi informed lawmakers that he had received a formal communication from Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo conveying the party's decision.
Addressing the House, Speaker Kingi confirmed that Oketch had assumed the position with immediate effect.
“By a letter dated July 16, 2026, I received correspondence from the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Stewart Madzayo, regarding the removal of Senator Edwin Sifuna as the Deputy Senate Minority Whip and the election of Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch to replace him,” Kingi told senators.
The Speaker said the decision complied with the Senate Standing Orders governing the removal of minority leadership officials.
He explained that Standing Order 234 allows the removal of a senator from a minority leadership position through a majority vote of senators belonging to the minority party, while Standing Order 236 requires the decision to be communicated to the Speaker in writing.
According to Kingi, the letter from Madzayo was accompanied by minutes from a minority party meeting held on July 15, 2026, together with a signed list of senators supporting the resolution.
“The minutes indicate that a resolution was passed to remove the Deputy Senate Minority Whip, Senator Edwin Sifuna,” the Speaker said.
Shortly after the announcement, Sifuna was seen shaking hands with Oketch in the Senate chamber, a gesture that appeared to reflect a smooth leadership transition.
As the new Deputy Senate Minority Whip, Oketch will assist in coordinating the minority coalition's business in the Senate, mobilising members for debates and votes, and supporting the Minority leadership in managing parliamentary affairs.
Sifuna's removal from the Senate leadership comes just a week after he lost another key position within ODM.
On July 9, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) approved the party's request to remove Sifuna as ODM Secretary General and updated the party's official leadership records.
His removal from the Secretary General position followed a resolution by ODM's National Executive Committee (NEC), which cited gross misconduct and his opposition to the party's cooperation agreement with President William Ruto's administration.