Edwin Sifuna has suffered a significant legal setback after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) struck out his petition challenging his removal as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, the tribunal declined to hear the matter, stating that it lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute.
The decision effectively blocks Sifuna’s initial attempt to halt the party’s internal move to replace him at the helm of the secretariat.
Sifuna, a prominent lawyer and vocal opposition leader, had moved to the tribunal seeking to stop his ouster, arguing that the process was flawed.
However, the PPDT determined that the issues raised fell outside its statutory mandate, leaving the embattled Secretary General with limited options.
The ruling comes amid heightened political realignments within the ODM party, the region's largest opposition coalition.
By striking out the case on grounds of jurisdiction, the tribunal did not address the substantive merits of Sifuna’s grievances but instead closed the door to that specific legal avenue.
Legal analysts suggest that Sifuna may now be forced to escalate the matter to the High Court if he wishes to continue challenging the leadership changes.
With the PPDT’s decision, the party’s internal mechanisms regarding the Secretary General position gain temporary leverage, though the final resolution of the power tussle may ultimately be decided by the higher judiciary.
As the political dust settles, all eyes are now on Sifuna’s next move, as the fight for control of the influential party secretariat appears far from over.
