According to reports from local media and social media posts, including one from The Standard Digital, Busia County ODM officials, led by County Secretary Fidelis Opetu, distanced themselves from the gathering planned for the following day.
They accused Sifuna and his associates of being manipulated to destabilize the party and undermine established leadership structures.
The leaders stressed that true unity demands respect for official party hierarchy, particularly under interim Party Leader Dr. Oburu Odinga, who assumed the role following the death of Raila Odinga in late 2025.
The boycott highlights deepening fractures in ODM since Raila's passing, as factions vie for control amid debates over the party's direction, including potential coalitions and independence ahead of 2027 elections.
Sifuna, often aligned with a young Turks group including Senators Godfrey Osotsi and figures like Babu Owino, has been vocal in questioning certain decisions, such as rally funding sources and leadership appointments.
His camp has pushed for grassroots mobilization through initiatives like the Linda Mwananchi Tour, with Sifuna himself announcing a Busia event via social media.
In contrast, the Busia group reaffirmed loyalty to Oburu's leadership and warned against actions seen as divisive.
They described Sifuna's allies as self-appointed and cautioned that such moves risk fragmenting the party's strong Western Kenya base.
The development comes amid broader party rifts, including past boycotts of central committee meetings and public disagreements over strategy.
Observers note Busia remains a key ODM stronghold, making the rejection particularly damaging for Sifuna's influence.
As the party grapples with these challenges, calls for dialogue grow louder to prevent further erosion of unity.
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