Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his allies will on Saturday hold a one-day closed-door retreat in Kiambu County to chart the next phase of his political campaign, including the launch of his party, nationwide tours, his presidential bid and a possible coalition agreement with the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on Thursday said Mr Sifuna will use the United Democratic Party (UDP), formerly associated with the late Cabinet Minister Cyrus Jirongo, to mount his presidential bid.
There had been efforts by Mr Natembeya and Mr Sifuna's allies to rebrand the party to Ukombozi People's Party before Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka registered Ukombozi as a coalition, triggering tensions between the two camps.
“Sifuna will use United Democratic Party (UDP) to vie for Presidency,” said Mr Natembeya in an interview with Mulembe FM, which broadcasts in Luhya.
Funyula MP Oundo Midenyo also confirmed to the Daily Nation that Mr Sifuna will use UDP, saying Saturday's retreat will primarily address internal issues that have emerged within the Linda Mwananchi movement.
“A lot has happened and we have to do housekeeping issues and make decisions. It will be a closed door meeting and some of the issues which have caused friction will be dealt with even as we also craft our future,” said the second-term ODM legislator.
The party is expected to be launched on October 3 at its headquarters in Westlands, Nairobi.
With the party issue seemingly settled, Mr Sifuna's allies said their attention is now shifting to coalition-building, particularly with the DCP, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka and his Kabuchai counterpart, Majimbo Kalasinga, who are close associates of Mr Sifuna, said Saturday's meeting will lay the groundwork for a possible partnership with Mr Gachagua.
“We have held meetings across the country and we now need to ensure how we move on with the next chapter. Sifuna is now focused on building a coalition agreement with Gachagua so that his Western Kenya and Mount Kenya votes will go into one basket,” said Mr Wamboka, who was elected on a DAP-Kenya ticket but has since broken ranks with the party's leadership.
Mr Wamboka said the decision to court Mr Gachagua was driven by their strained relations with Mr Musyoka, whom they accuse of betrayal.
“We can’t engage Kalonzo at this stage because of what he has done to us. Our focus is working with Mount Kenya all the way to the ballot and the only way we can work with him is if the opposition will produce a joint presidential candidate which is Sifuna,” said Mr Wamboka.
“Sifuna’s running mate will come from Mount Kenya and we will go all the way to the ballot,” he said.
Mr Kalasinga dismissed claims by allies of Mr Musyoka that Mr Sifuna could deputise the Wiper leader.
“At this stage we can’t focus on Kalonzo because it is evident he is not sincere. He doesn’t even deserve to be Sifuna’s running mate because we have been on campaigns and we know Kenya wants change. Which change can Kalonzo bring in the country?” said Mr Kalasinga, who is serving his first term in Parliament.
Mr Wamboka and Mr Kalasinga said that after Saturday's retreat, they will embark on registering party members and preparing for a major launch of Mr Sifuna's presidential campaign.
The decision by Mr Sifuna's allies to distance themselves from Mr Musyoka could further complicate efforts to unite the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has also backed a potential Mount Kenya-Western alliance, arguing that the two regions' numerical strength could propel a candidate to the presidency.
“Nobody can win the presidency if he doesn’t work with Mount Kenya since election is a game of numbers. If you take Mount Kenya and Mulembe then the elections are gone,” said Mr Malala.
“We are starting a coalition called MM (Mulembe, Mount Kenya) and that is why some people want to ensure Sifuna doesn’t get a party,” said Malala.
