Jubilee Party Leader and Presidential candidate Fred Matiangi after a meeting with the Linda Mwananchi team, led by the Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, in Karen, ahead of the team’s trip to Western Kenya.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s planned homecoming this weekend is already shaping up to be a defining moment in his 2027 presidential bid.
The Linda Mwananchi leader will be in Kitale Town, Trans Nzoia County, on Saturday before holding a mega rally on Sunday at the historic Posta Grounds in Bungoma.
The two events are already causing political excitement and reshaping the political landscape of Western Kenya.
Mr Sifuna’s growing political influence has prompted key political leaders from across the country to throw their weight behind his bid.
On Wednesday, Jubilee Deputy Leader Fred Matiang’i and Mr Sifuna met with a host of legislators allied to the two leaders, where politics and cooperation ahead of the 2027 General Election were discussed at length.
Jubilee Party Leader and Presidential candidate Fred Matiangi after a meeting with the Linda Mwananchi team, led by the Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna, in Karen, ahead of the team’s trip to Western Kenya.
“Our discussions focused on strengthening strategic coordination across the United Alternative Government and aligning our efforts as we continue to offer Kenyans a credible, principled, and people-centered alternative ahead of the 2027 General Election,” said Dr Matiang’i.
“We remain committed to regular consultations and purposeful engagement as we work together to restore accountable leadership, uphold constitutional governance, and put our country firmly back on the path of national renewal,” he added.
Mr Sifuna also posted photos of the meeting on his social media accounts with the caption: “Team ni moja (We are one team).”
The meeting came after Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, one of Dr Matiang’i’s key allies, publicly switched his political allegiance to Mr Sifuna during a rally in Taita Taveta last weekend.
Mr Onyonka was among lawmakers who attended the morning meeting. The vocal senator downplayed any fallout with Dr Matiang’i in his decision to back Mr Sifuna.
“What those creating divisions should know is that we are not looking for just a president but a King President who will unite the country irrespective of the region. We have done our arithmetic and there is no way Ruto can win if we are united,” Mr Onyonka told the Nation.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka during a women empowerment program in Mosocho, Kisii County on July 3, 2026.
The Kisii Senator said the opposition had noted that President William Ruto was putting considerable effort into galvanising support in Western Kenya and that they had to counter his influence before it was too late.
“Speaker Moses Wetangúla and most MPs from Western are on the ground through empowerment activities every weekend and telling everyone that Sifuna is bad, that he has no money for campaigns. We have to counter that because if the entire Western voting bloc is behind us and we also get the Eastern bloc, then Ruto will have no votes,” added the senator.
He revealed that the Sifuna-Matiang’i meeting was expected to strengthen support in Nyanza and Western Kenya, giving them an advantage at the negotiation table.
“Gachagua is saying he has over four million votes; if we rally our bloc, we shall have over five million votes to take to the table and get the presidential ticket. The meeting was about working on our numbers and locking President Ruto out of our regions,” he added.
The opposition leaders are expected to hold a retreat within the next two weeks to plan a united front, according to the Kisii senator. He, however, cautioned the opposition leaders against chest-thumping and laying claims on the presidency now that it is evident to them President Ruto is beatable
"Even Matiangí said there was no problem with the statement I made in Taita Taveta about supporting Sifuna because we are one team and our agenda is changing this country," he said.
Funyula MP Oundo Midenyo told the Nation the meeting was fruitful and focused on uniting the opposition behind one candidate in the 2027 General Election.
“Our common enemy is this government and that is why you see all leaders from the political divide met to plan. We want to rally Western and all other regions behind the sole candidate which the opposition will appoint to face off with Ruto,” said the ODM legislator, adding that the meeting was about planning and strategising.
“Even Natembeya, who is planning this weekend meeting, has his heart in the Linda Mwananchi brigade. Everyone has realized Ruto is going home and that is why we have to manage our leaders and consult so that we get the best candidate,” he added.
According to Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, only a united Opposition can defeat President Ruto at the ballot.
“We were just pushing for a united opposition. As Linda Mwananchi, we have resolved to pursue unity of all like-minded leaders in our pursuit to deny Ruto another term in office. We have planned to meet Kalonzo next week before we can have a similar meeting with Rigathi," he said.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi addresses delegates during the People’s Delegate Convention organised by the Linda Mwananchi faction of the ODM party in Nairobi on March 27, 2026.
Mr Osotsi also urged Western Kenya residents to turn out in large numbers to welcome Mr Sifuna and demonstrate their support for his presidential bid.
"Preparations are in high gear, and we expect a huge turnout by the people. We want to ask Kenya Kwanza to keep off because we plan to have a peaceful meeting with the people," he added.
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Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya also told Nation that preparations for the rally had been completed and urged residents to wait for the announcement of the new political party.
“We have made the necessary arrangements, informed all security agencies and we expect a peaceful meeting. Sifuna is our son and this region is his home, so nobody can intimidate him; let everyone play their politics with respect because in the end it is the people who will decide,” said Mr Natembeya, who is also the United Opposition Western regional coordinator.
Trans-Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya when he appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee at Bunge Tower in Nairobi on September 23, 2025.
“Our main agenda is removing President Ruto from power and improving the life of Kenyans. We are selling our agenda and supporting Sifuna for the presidency and for that to be achieved, our people have to support us,” added the first-term governor, who has since ditched Eugene Wamalwa-led DAP-Kenya and will seek re-election on a new party.
The planned rally has generated excitement among Linda Mwananchi supporters across Western Kenya, with politicians hiring buses and mobilising supporters to fill Posta Grounds on Sunday.
Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, who is seeking Bungoma governorship, is the latest politician to shift his allegiance to Mr Sifuna's camp.
While the opposition will be in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, President Ruto will be in Busia on Sunday, where 2027 politics is expected to take center stage.
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