How Ruto met Oburu and Ole Kina at night, ordered Sifuna's removal

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during the Senate's County Public Accounts Committee at Bunge Towers, Parliament, Nairobi, July 9, 2026. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

President William Ruto was at the centre of moves that led to the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Senate Deputy Minority Whip, after hosting a meeting with a section of ODM senators led by party leader Oburu Odinga at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, sources have claimed.

Hours after the State House meeting, a tense night gathering of 21 Azimio-aligned senators set the stage for Sifuna’s ouster, with Migori Senator Eddy Oketch replacing him as Deputy Minority Whip.

The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings at about 7 pm, descended into chaos after senators failed to agree on the proposed removal of Sifuna, with a physical confrontation reported among members of the Minority side.

The meeting had been convened by Senate Minority Whip Ledama ole Kina, who informed senators that a parliamentary group meeting would be held in his office at 7.30 pm. He told members that the agenda would be shared upon arrival.

The late notice and lack of an agenda raised suspicion among senators aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction, who mobilised under the leadership of Kitui Senator Enock Wambua and Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah after learning that Sifuna’s removal was likely to be discussed.

When the senators met, tempers flared, with one senator reportedly jumping onto a table and attempting to assault a colleague before being restrained.

The confrontation followed disagreement over the removal of Sifuna, with 11 of the 21 senators present opposing the move.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said the stalemate arose after Senator Ledama declined to announce the outcome of the vote, saying the process had not been concluded and absent senators would be allowed to participate the following day.

“The decision by Senator Ledama to refuse to declare that the senators who were against the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Deputy Minority Whip heightened tensions, with the Sifuna group demanding that the results be announced immediately,” Osotsi said.

Omtatah said those opposed to the meeting questioned why it had been called late in the day, arguing that the notice was insufficient and that the agenda should have been disclosed earlier.

“Senator Ledama insisted that the meeting would proceed because the required quorum — half of the 31-member coalition — had been attained. He informed those present that the agenda was to remove Senator Sifuna and that there would be no turning back,” Omtatah said.

A senator who requested anonymity claimed the State House meeting paved the way for the parliamentary group meeting, alleging that President Ruto directed ODM lawmakers to remove Sifuna and was categorical that the decision should proceed.

Sources said senators who attended the State House meeting included Oburu Odinga (Siaya), Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Eddy Oketch (Migori), Hamida Kibwana and nominated Senator Betty Montet.

Others reportedly present were Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Issa Juma Boy (Kwale), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) and Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta).

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said it was notable that the Azimio senators’ meeting came only hours after Oburu led a section of ODM lawmakers to State House for talks with President Ruto.

“Soon after the State House meeting, we were shocked to receive a message on the Azimio Senators WhatsApp group summoning a parliamentary group meeting at 6 pm on Wednesday. Minority Whip Senator Ledama issued the notice but did not include the agenda,” Onyonka said.

Sifuna’s removal as Deputy Minority Whip comes weeks after he was removed as ODM secretary-general following accusations of insubordination by a faction supporting Oburu.

The Nairobi senator was also removed from the Senate Energy Committee, chaired by Oburu, last month and replaced by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, in what highlighted growing tensions within the party.

Sifuna remains a member of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee chaired by Kajwang’ and the Senate National Security, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced Sifuna’s removal on the floor of the House on Thursday afternoon, based on correspondence from Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo.

Kingi said he had received minutes of the Minority Party meeting dated July 15, 2026, together with the resolution and a duly signed list of senators supporting the changes.

“From the correspondence, the minutes indicate that a resolution was passed to remove the Deputy Senate Minority Whip, Senator Edwin Sifuna, in accordance with Standing Order 23(4),” Kingi told the House.

The Speaker said the minutes further showed that Migori Senator Eddy Oketch had been elected to replace Sifuna pursuant to Standing Order 23(5).

He added that under Standing Order 23(6), a senator elected to the position may be removed by a majority vote of all senators belonging to the Minority Party, with the decision communicated to the Speaker in writing.

“I have verified the correspondence received and hereby communicate that the Minority Party has effected a change in the Office of the Deputy Senate Minority Whip. The new office holder, with immediate effect, is Senator Eddy Oketch,” Kingi said.

Sifuna, who sat next to Oketch in the House, congratulated him on his appointment, saying it was now his responsibility to whip senators to ensure quorum — a role he said he had performed diligently for four years.

The Nairobi senator said he would continue criticising the government over what he described as failures, insisting his removal would not stop him from representing Nairobi residents and Kenyans.

“We will continue speaking the truth about the failures of this administration even if they punish us. Jesus said. When someone takes your coat, give him your shirt too. I congratulate my younger brother Eddy; it is now going to be his job to whip members to raise a quorum,” Sifuna said.