From politics to marriage life: Full story of Edwin Sifuna

Edwin Sifuna has built a reputation as one of Kenya’s most popular figures in the Orange Democratic Movement. 

A trained lawyer who rose through opposition politics, he has often found himself at the centre of national debate, sometimes praised for his sharp legal mind, sometimes criticised for his hardline partisan stance.

Born on May 22, 1982, in Kakamega County, Sifuna was raised in a working-class family. His father worked with the defunct Municipal Council, while his mother was a teacher. 

His upbringing, rooted in public service and modest means, would later shape his political messaging around inequality and governance.

He attended Kakamega Township Primary School before joining Musingu High School. 

Sifuna later pursued a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 2006. 

He completed his Postgraduate Diploma at the Kenya School of Law in 2007 and was admitted to the Roll of Advocates in 2008.

His legal training would become central to his political identity, often positioning himself as a defender of constitutionalism and institutional accountability.

After admission to the Bar, Sifuna worked in corporate legal roles, including positions at private firms, before establishing his own practice in Nairobi. But his transition from law to politics was gradual rather than abrupt.

He became active in opposition coalition politics, serving in technical and advisory roles within the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and later the National Super Alliance (NASA). 

These coalitions were built around opposition leader Raila Odinga and played a central role in contesting Jubilee Party dominance during the 2013 and 2017 political cycles.

Sifuna’s behind-the-scenes involvement soon evolved into frontline political engagement.

In 2017, Sifuna vied for the Nairobi Senate seat. He did not win, finishing as first runner-up in a tightly contested race against current Governor, Johnson Sakaja. 

Though unsuccessful, the campaign elevated his public profile and marked his transition into party leadership.

Sifuna was later appointed Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), one of Kenya’s largest political parties. 

Taking the role in his mid-30s, he became one of the youngest individuals to hold such a powerful party office.

As Secretary-General, he has often been the party’s chief defender in media interviews and press briefings. 

His direct, sometimes confrontational communication style has made him a regular feature in Kenya’s political debates.

Critics argue that his combative approach deepens political polarisation. Supporters say it demonstrates loyalty and clarity in opposition politics.

Sifuna has consistently framed himself as an advocate for youth participation and women’s inclusion in politics. 

Within ODM structures, he has supported initiatives to increase representation, including backing efforts by the party’s Women's League. 

His broader political messaging often centres on constitutional implementation, devolution, and electoral reform, issues that have defined Kenya’s post-2010 political environment.

Away from politics, Edwin Sifuna is a husband and father first. He formalised his marriage in 2015, following Luhya traditions that require a man in public life to officially marry and pay dowry. 

He has spoken openly about that period, describing it as both a cultural obligation and a personal choice.

His wife is an environmental lawyer with a master’s degree and previously worked as a prosecutor at the Kenya Wildlife Service. 

She grew up in Loresho in a political family, an environment that exposed her early to the realities of leadership and public scrutiny.

Sifuna often says she is more educated than he and credits her with keeping him grounded. 

At home, he describes himself as calm and easy-going, allowing her to take the lead on many issues. 

When social media criticism or political tension rises, he has said she treats it lightly, sometimes laughing off dramatic comments that come his way.

He has also shared that while his mother worries about the risks that come with outspoken politics, his wife tends to respond differently,  encouraging faith and calm rather than fear. 

That difference, he suggests, has helped steady his family during tense political moments.

Edwin Sifuna's ouster as ODM Secretary General stemmed from internal party conflicts. The ODM National Executive Committee (NEC) removed him on February 11 during a meeting in Mombasa, citing Sifuna's indiscipline and defiance of party positions, including resistance to aligning with the broad-based government.

Busia Woman Rep Catherine Omanyo was appointed acting SG immediately. Sifuna, absent from the meeting, rejected the decision as unconstitutional and vowed legal action. On February 12, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) halted the removal, barring gazettement and staying implementation pending a hearing.

The case was set for mention on February 26, 2026, with Sifuna retaining the position temporarily.

At 43, Sifuna remains a key figure in Kenya’s opposition politics. Whether he evolves into a broader national leader or remains primarily a party tactician will depend on how he handles the ODM leadership transition and how he positions himself in the upcoming 2027 General Election. 

What is clear is that Edwin Sifuna’s trajectory, from lawyer to one of the country’s most visible party officials, has made him a figure difficult to ignore in contemporary Kenyan politics.