From 55bob contribution to presidential bid: Why Sifuna has been sued

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna addresses Linda Mwananchi rally at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi on September 13,  2026. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

A man has moved to court seeking orders to compel Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to go for the presidency and nothing else.

In an intriguing case against Sifuna and Linda Mwananchi Movement, Allan Masakhalia argued that the former ODM Secretary General has sold a dream to Kenyans, and in turn has bankrolled his bid, hence, he cannot cede to any other leader or deputy Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Masakhalia said he has contributed to the cause.

He attached Mpesa messages showing that he allegedly contributed at least Sh55.

The man argued that his commitment to Sifuna’s race to the house on the hill cannot be passed to any other politician. Simply, he wants the Senator to go flat out or else be forced to account for or refund the contribution the movement has so far received.

“On my own behalf and on the behalf of thousands of Kenyans who are still contributing financially, I insist that Hon Sifuna is unable to divert our funds to another candidate. He also can’t collect funds from us and end up using the same funds to campaign for another person. Yes he has the right to make his own political decisions, but that cant shield him from accountability more so of public funds. Hon Sifuna must therefore contest the presidency or apologise to all the contributors and refund them their money,” argued Masakhalia.

In his affidavit, he claimed that he had closely followed Sifuna’s campaigns and had willingly contributed to his publicly declared bid owing to the dreams the Senator carries.

“I made the said contribution voluntarily and in reliance upon the public representations made concerning the political project, its objectives and the purpose for which citizens were being invited to contribute,” he said, adding that his money was not a charity for a private cause but for Sifuna to go for Kenya’s top seat.

“I did not make the contribution as a private gift to the first respondent for his personal use. Neither was I responding to a medical or educational fundraiser, my contribution was clearly towards Sifuna’s presidential kitty,” added Masakhalia.

He argued that his case was meant to hold Sifuna to account and stick to his word. According to him, he cannot play second fiddle when Kenyans have believed in his dream and banked on it.

“My contribution of Sh55 was therefore made in the context of my participation as a Kenyan citizen in a publicly promoted political project.I am aware that the fundraising appeal attracted contributions from numerous other Kenyan citizens. Some were collected in buckets at rural markets such as Naitiri, Butula, Kakamega, Kabuchai, amongst others the buckets had Sifuna’s poster, which most of the contributors believe to be his presidential campaign poster,” he continued.

Masakhalia claimed that his concern was that Sifuna allegedly said that he would not be a hindrance to any other political leader who has a chance to beat President William Ruto at the ballot.

“The first respondent has been publicly heard stating that he won’t be the obstacle to opposition unity and that he could even support other candidates, prominently among them being Dr Matiangi, Hon Kalonzo or even Rigathi Gachagua. My concern is particularly serious because the political project has solely been publicly associated with the first respondent being the one contesting for the presidency in the 2027 general election,” he argued.