ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna addresses the media at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on February 18, 2026.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna on Thursday said he is yet to decide which seat he will vie for in the 2027 General Election, despite the popularity he is currently enjoying in his Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
He said he is selfless and would not want his activities in the Linda Mwananchi formation to be centred on him as an individual. Instead, he prefers to be part of a collective discourse that is people-centred.
“What we have is an idea of the common good, supported by the people. We have a task of telling these people that we will not let them down. In serving the people, we have this overriding national goal — the desire to rescue the country through democratic regime change. But when we say this government must go, we must provide a believable reason that we are ready to step in and fill the vacuum,” he said.
He said this is the true north that informs his commitment to the defeat of President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, adding that feedback from his supporters is firmly focused on rescuing the country from the current administration.
Edwin Sifuna during the Linda Mwananchi Rally in Shamakhokho, Hamisi Sub-County, Vihiga County, on April 25, 2026.
Speaking on Spice FM, Mr Sifuna, who described himself as the kingpin of the Abaluhya community, said he first plans to tour the country for a public engagement drive so that, together with his allies in the Linda Mwananchi formation, they can develop a watertight strategy to help Kenyans secure the government they deserve.
“Sifuna for President? It is not about Sifuna. First, we build a movement that is consequential. We need a critical mass that can win government. We want to ensure a consequential impact on all ballots on offer. On individual ambition, we will cross that bridge when we get there. It should not be about Sifuna; it should be a mass movement,” he said.
Mr Sifuna said his approach is inspired by the late Raila Odinga, who taught him never to fear taking difficult paths in pursuit of good governance.
“Raila used to encourage me that as long as you are on the side of the people, you have nothing to fear. That encouragement is what is making Linda Mwananchi activities on the ground successful,” he said.
He said Mr Odinga never endorsed President Ruto’s re-election in 2027, arguing that he believed the President had been significantly weakened.
Linda Mwananchi team led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi-East MP Babu Owino arrive at Mazembe Grounds in Nakuru on April 19, 2026.
“Raila’s calculation was that a rebellious Mt Kenya region, which had installed this government with a margin of 200,000 votes, meant President Ruto was weakened. He believed that as long as ODM retained its strongholds, 2027 would be a defining moment for the party. We are only living true to the spirit of our fallen leader. What we are doing is what he desired,” he said.
Mr Sifuna said his opposition to President Ruto’s leadership is not driven by malice.
“The government that Kenyans wanted when they voted in 2022 has since been defiled. Young people, in particular, have strongly said they want this government out of their lives. They want to be free, as espoused in the preamble of our Constitution,” he said.
He accused President Ruto’s government of selling false hope to buy time, while making re-election promises that are unrealistic and cannot be fulfilled.
He said he and his supporters do not oppose development, but question the intent behind it.
“The argument we have is that development is good, but it must have good intentions. You cannot build highways to enable police to easily access villages to abduct and disappear young people. Build stadiums, yes, but ensure the tendering process is open and transparent. You cannot tell us you are giving young people cash to start businesses without declaring it is a World Bank loan. There is no need to spend taxpayers’ money distributing funds that can be sent directly,” he said.
Mr Sifuna accused the government of systematic state capture, particularly in procurement.
“We are saying we should not cartelise investments. Let the world know we are seeking partners for projects like those that were being awarded to the Adani Group. We have seen projects flagged for being overpriced by more than Sh10 billion. Those are not the things we want presented as development,” he said.
Mr Sifuna said ODM support bases are united in opposing President Ruto’s re-election.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna addresses delegates during the People’s Delegate Convention organised by the Linda Mwananchi faction of the ODM at Ufungamano House in Nairobi on March 27, 2026.
“All ODM support bases are unanimous that President Ruto is not fit for re-election. They do not want him. There was no resolution within ODM to support Dr Ruto. He is bad for the country, and that is the overwhelming feedback we have received from the Linda Mwananchi tours,” he said.
On how the formation funds its activities, Mr Sifuna dismissed claims that it receives support from former President Uhuru Kenyatta as unfounded.
“Those making such claims have not provided any evidence that I, or anyone in our team, has received money from Mr Kenyatta. I can demonstrate how we fund ourselves through contributions from members of the public and well-wishers,” he said.
He accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of spreading rumours on the issue.
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“Mr Murkomen claims we are under 24-hour surveillance. Let him provide evidence of any of us receiving money from Mr Kenyatta. I would not need Mr Kenyatta to give me the Sh3 million that was the budget for the recent Kisumu rally. Members of the movement contributed, and we also received donations from individuals in government, though we cannot name them,” he said.
He said the opposition must respond to the concerns of Kenyans.
“We can hear the yearning. There is a passionate call from Kenyans who want their country back. They want a government rooted in constitutionalism and openness. Instead, we have a government of wheeler-dealers engaging in unjust enrichment. We cannot continue with a system where Teachers Service Commission recruitment letters are distributed through political allies. We want to end that and restore meritocracy,” he said.
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