Linda Mwananchi wave sweeps through Meru
National
By
Phares Mutembei
| Aug 31, 2026
Leaders allied to Linda Mwananchi brigade led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna yesterday made more startling claims about a government scheme to rig the August 10 General elections.
In their first visit to the Mount Kenya region, Sifuna, who was accompanied by former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, made several stopover addressing jubilant supporters, who turn out in their numbers.
During the tour, the brigade held campaign stopovers at Buuri, North Imenti, Central Imenti and South Imenti's constituencies of Meru County, the leaders claimed some of the schemes involved registering underage youths to vote by first granting them national identity cards.
Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya claimed President Ruto's government has been issuing IDs to massive numbers of underage Kenyans in its strongholds with a view of tilting the vote balance to it's favour.
“Shockingly, children between ages 10-15 years are getting national IDs especially in the Rift Valley,” claimed Natembeya. “We have also noted that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched roadside registration of voters in some areas and left out others.”
Natembeya, who made the claims, also said the Sifuna-led alliance would storm State House if UDA rigged the elections rather than seek relief at the Supreme Court.
Natembeya said IDs were also being dished out in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Somalia and Uganda and urged Kenyans to reject those claiming that Kenya had no precedent of electing a president for a single term. He added that it was also the first time Kenyans were experiencing the harshest economic meltdown and tribalism at its peak.
Sifuna, while addressing the residents, took a swipe at President Ruto for excelling in insulting opposition leaders, including calling them fools when his governance style showed he was the problem in the room.
He accused President Ruto of being a twisted botanist, saying it was ironic that a professional with a PHD in Botany has in the past been associated with the excision of Ngong, Kakamega, and Imenti forests as well as the Nairobi National Park.
“Let's match his insults by insults. When he calls us fools but he is a botanist supporting the destruction of all these nature reserves, it shows clearly it's him who has a failure of rational thinking,” he said.
Senator Sifuna noted that the region had voted for President Ruto in the 2022 elections, but he did not deliver the projects he pledged.
He said the people must not repeat the mistake of voting for Ruto, irrespective of whether Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hails from the Mt Kenya East region.
“The people have decided he must go home. In Western, Kajiado, Coast will not vote for him. The people of Mt Kenya should unite with us in voting Ruto out,” he said.
Sifuna accused the Ruto administration of propagating goonism and violence against those who oppose his bad governance. He pointed to prominent extrajudicial killings as he said the regime did not respect democracy.
“We will form a government that respects the rule of law. His manifesto was based on falsehoods. I will not lie to Kenyans just because I want to be president,” he said.
He added, “He thinks we fear him. Buy he should first respect himself before expecting respect. Ruto thinks respect comes by force. We don't fear him. He must restore respect in the presidency.”
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Otsotsi urged Mt Kenya East and especially the larger Meru leaders to reject moves to divide the larger region, saying it was a selfish move to ensure he won elections narrowly.
"We also urge your son, Kithure Kindiki, to be wary of undisguised moves to ease him out of office. He must have noted that when the president is in Western, he introduces Wycliffe Oparanya as his possible running mate. The same happens with Ali Hassan Joho, while he is in the coast and to Gladys Wanga, when he is in Nyanza. It doesn't take a genius to tell what the President is up to," said Ososti.
The tour started with a meeting at the Nthumburi home of impeached former governor Kawira Mwangaza also attended by Sifuna Richard Onyonka (Kisii), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Richard Onyonka (Kisii).
Others in the meeting included MPs Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai) and Babu Owino (Embakasi East). Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo and Jubilee activist Pauline Njoroge were also in the meetings.
Later, the convoy had a stopover at Kiirua market before proceeding to Githongo in Central Imenti, Nkubu in South Imenti and Meru town in North Imenti.
The Linda Mwananchi brigade visit saw massive crowds eager to see and hear what the outfit had in store for them. The reception was highly symbolic of the event's host, Kawira Mwangaza, with over 200 motorbike outriders on approaches to stopover markets and townships.
The turnout must have impressed Sifuna on his maiden visit as a presidential candidate, as crowds packed towns, lined by the roadside to cheer them into the areas.
Young people especially turned up impressively, and one of them, Abogeta West MCA aspirant Kinoti wa Mwenda, said: "Sifuna resonates the new ideas that we have. Politics should be shaped by ideologies, and not money. Look at Sifuna's lifestyle; he lives a simple like a common mwananchi," Mwenda said.
They were not disappointed as the Nairobi Senator was again in his element, listing endless wrongs he said had been committed by the President William Ruto administration.
The visit was the culmination of planning organised for the entire week by their host, former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The tour saw Mwangaza and some of her political foes together for the first time since her impeachment, united in their common agenda to remove President Ruto from power.
Among the biggest opponents in her caravan yesterday was Meru assembly minority whip and Abogeta West MCA Dennis 'DMK' Kiogora, who tabled her first impeachment months into office.
Mr Kiogora has been mentioned as a potential Senate candidate and gubernatorial running mate for former Meru Governor Peter Munya.
The presence of another MCA, Mwenda Ithili (Akithi ward) senatorial candidate had seemed in doubt because he and Mwangaza do not see eye to eye.
But those political differences were thrown in the back burner yesterday, as Mwangaza affirmed that all those who are supporting a Sifuna presidency were welcome.
“We welcome all those who support Sifuna for President, those who belong to the one-term movement against Ruto and Kindiki,” she said.
Kiogora and Ithili were elected on the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), popularly referred to as 'Mbus' and associated with former governor Kiraitu Murungi.
At Nkubu, Kiraitu's home turf, a large crowd turned out as Sifuna's presence brought activities to a standstill. There, he was gifted a bunch of Miraa (khat), with residents keen to see if he really was a fan of the stimulant, as he has claimed in public before.
Despite the fact that Mwangaza's impeachment is still in the appellate court Sifuna and the other leaders rallied the people for her, urging them to vote her back in the next year’s poll.
"There is no governor who has been harassed in the country more than Kawira. She was fought within six months after being elected. The (impeachment) charges against her were false," Sifuna said as his visit reunited local political foes.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said Sifuna had opposed the impeachment charges against Mwangaza in the Senate, and lauded him for that.
"You stood for the truth and defended Kawira," Dr Khalwale said.
Natembea also rallied the region for Mwangaza, "I worked with Mwangaza in the CoG and she was delivering. We want her to be Meru Governor. She will be on the ballot."
"I hear Kasongo is looking for her after realising she is very popular," Natembeya added.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino urged the residents of Meru to vote for Mwangaza next year as Governor.
“Meru has had bad leadership, starting from Ruto and to the current Meru Governor, after Mwangaza was unfairly ousted,” he said.
Nuru Okanga of Bunge la Mwananchi was a hit with the locals and he was in element, whipping up excitement at the various stops.
As was DJ Spiderman, who did gigs for late ODM leader Raila Odinga and earned Sifuna's admiration for the lively entertainment he provided, ensuring the crowds enjoyed good beats as they also listened to politics.
Miraa was a major issue with Babu Owino saying the Ruto government had let down Miraa dependent Meru community, with low prices and lack of markets.
“They are wasting Sh2.5 billion in funds on unnecessary police uniforms, money that can buy so much fertiliser for farmers or even build a brand new factory,” Owino said.