Officials from Registrar of Political Parties Visit ODM Headquarters

Officers of the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) on Thursday, March 12, 2026, paid an ad hoc courtesy visit to the quarters of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Taking it to their social media handles on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the ODM party confirmed that the delegation was headed by Joan Sirma, and it was aimed at assessing the progress of operations of the party and consulting its leadership in relation to the legal requirements of political parties in Kenya. “Officials from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties made a routine courtesy call on the party headquarters this morning to check on the progress of the party. Led by Ms Joan Sirma, the officials lauded the party for sticking to provisions of the law,” the ODM Party stated in a post. According to the political system of governance in Kenya, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has the responsibility to govern, register and oversee political parties in order to ensure that they conduct their operations within the bounds of the law. The visit comes amidst internal political tensions that the Orange Democratic Movement has been struggling with, which have torn the party apart within the top leadership of the party. The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) temporarily suspended the implementation of a resolution by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to remove Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General. In orders issued on February 12, 2026, Acting Chairperson Gad Gathu certified as urgent a notice of motion application filed by Sifuna under a certificate of urgency. The tribunal directed that the complaint and application be served immediately on the respondents—ODM and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. “That the Notice of Motion application dated 11th February 2026 be and is hereby certified urgent,” the tribunal ordered. The dispute stems from a resolution passed by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on February 11, 2026, seeking to remove Sifuna from office. Pending the hearing and determination of the application, the tribunal issued interim conservatory orders staying the implementation of that resolution. “That pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, inter partes, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues orders staying the implementation of the Resolution made by the National Executive Committee of the Orange Democratic Movement Party on 11th February, 2026 to remove Edwin Sifuna as the Secretary-General of the party,” the order reads. The tribunal also restrained the respondents from publishing the contested resolution in the Kenya Gazette until the case is heard and determined. “That pending the hearing and determination of this instant application, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues an order restraining the Respondents from publishing in the Kenya Gazette the Resolution made on 11th February 2026 to remove Edwin Sifuna as the Secretary-General of the party,” the tribunal directed. ODM and the Registrar have seven days from February 12 to file and serve their responses. Sifuna has been granted leave to file any supplementary response within three days of being served. Over the recent months, the party has been spotted as being divided into two major blocks due to the different political manoeuvres and political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. One of the sides is tilted towards the party leader and Siaya senator, Oburu Odinga. Oburu’s faction is advocating for the ODM Party to make a merger with the ruling side, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). One of the sides is tilted towards the party leader and Naiobi senator and ODMS secretary general Edwin Sifuna, who are opposed to the formation of a merger with UDA and the reelection of President William Ruto.