Sifuna Says Linda Mwananchi Will Field Candidates in All Seats, Defends Western Kenya Tour
He revealed the movement had raised Sh6.5 million in three days through small M-Pesa contributions of Sh10, Sh50, citing an old woman in Kimilili market who gave him a worn Sh50 note.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has said the Linda Mwananchi movement is strongly considering fronting a presidential candidate in 2027 and will field candidates from MCA to President, even as he remained coy on whether he will be the one on the ballot.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday night, Sifuna said the movement is currently on a nationwide consultation tour to gauge public support, dismissing claims that his recent tour of Bungoma and Trans Nzoia was a homecoming.
“I don’t know why people are calling it a homecoming. We have given an undertaking to reach all 47 counties to speak to the people. We have done 16 counties, there are 31 left,” Sifuna said. “It just happens that I originally come from Bungoma County… everywhere I go is actually a homecoming. My home is actually in Kenya.”
Sifuna, who appeared on the program as a leader from Linda Mwananchi – not Linda Monanchi as initially captioned – said the movement was born out of a yearning for different politics, arguing Kenyans are overburdened by taxation, unemployment and disregard for the rule of law.
On the question of whether he is running for president, Sifuna said the decision will be collegiate.
“As Linda Mwananchi, we are very strongly considering the prospect of running a presidential candidate and that is something coming from the people themselves,” he said. “The way decisions are made in Linda Mwananchi are very collegiate. I wouldn’t just be able to do it if I was alone.”
Pressed on recent TIFA polls putting him at 15% popularity – ahead of Kalonzo Musyoka at 13%, Fred Matiang’i at 14% and Rigathi Gachagua at 7%, and behind President William Ruto at 24% – Sifuna said it shows momentum but not enough to win.
“It says that I need to keep pushing because the highest I’ve seen is 15%, which doesn’t get anyone elected president. Why don’t you allow me to go fetch votes from Wajir and Mandera and Samburu… when I see my numbers near 50% plus one then maybe you can ask me that question,” he said, adding that a presidential declaration would not be made “at night on a show like this” but in broad daylight before the people.
Sifuna confirmed that Linda Mwananchi has drawn members from across the political divide, including Wiper, and that its membership has been pushing for structure to allow volunteers, donations and aspirants to plug in. He revealed the movement had raised Sh6.5 million in three days through small M-Pesa contributions of Sh10, Sh50, citing an old woman in Kimilili market who gave him a worn Sh50 note.
On his strained relationship with ODM, where he served as Secretary General, Sifuna said it is the party that is pushing them out.
“They have stripped us of all the things that he gave us… I just see all of us being removed from the ODM WhatsApp group. It’s not me who’s leaving. They kicked us out,” he said. He noted there is a motion in the Senate to remove him as chair of the County Public Investments Committee.[Raila]
He defended his leadership credentials, saying values are lived, not explained on TV, and pointed to his record of rejecting land grabbing attempts, including saving Tom Mboya Social Hall.
“We want to tell you what country you will wake up to on August 11, 2027. Kenyans want a government based on human rights, democracy, rule of law, social justice – not just roads and stadiums,” Sifuna said.
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