BY FELIX WANJALA

The remarks by leaders have further inflamed political tensions within the ODM party, with some supporters of the broad-based government reportedly expressing frustration with Edwin Sifuna and calling for his immediate removal from the party’s leadership.

Migori County Senator Eddy Oketch had formally petitioned the party leadership, alleging that Sifuna had violated several provisions of the ODM constitution and was therefore unfit to continue serving as the party’s Secretary-General.This development comes amid claims that a number of Members of Parliament had threatened to quit the party should a meeting of the party’s top decision-making organ be convened to deliberate on Sifuna’s possible ouster.

The reported pressure from these leaders is said to have prompted party leader Oburu Odinga to instruct Senator Oketch to withdraw the motion seeking Sifuna’s removal from office.Nonetheless, some leaders have called for dialogue between Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed in a bid to ease tensions and restore unity within the party.

Meanwhile, Sifuna has maintained that he is not intimidated by anyone and insists he will not support the broad-based government arrangement, contrary to claims by some party leaders.