Sifuna storm
Politics
By
Standard Team
| Jul 26, 2026
The quest to dislodge President William Ruto from power yesterday flipped a new chapter as the Linda Mwanainchi brigade propped Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as their potential candidate to alter the country’s political architecture and usher in new leadership in next year’s General Elections.
This came as the brigade held a consequential rally that observers believe is the turning point for Western and for next year’s presidential race, marking the entry of Sifuna into the arena of political heavyweights.
The brigade was treated to a heroic reception in Trans Nzoia as thousands of residents threw their weight behind Sifuna’s leap of faith to upset President Ruto and become the country’s sixth president.
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The atmosphere was euphoric, and the political stars appear to have aligned for Sifuna as the theatre of the political game of chess thrust one of the late Raila Odinga’s political students to the centre of the bid to deliver a fatal political blow to the elephant in the room, President Ruto.
Crowds chanted his name and political slogans. Leaders carried his hand, signifying an endorsement as he replicated the late Raila’s organic crowds in a show of might that shook Mulembe nation and announced the arrival of a new titan.
Backed by a relentless push by the Linda Mwananchi team to unite and present a formidable competition to Ruto, several leaders vowed to back Sifuna and bolster grassroots mobilisation efforts to defeat Ruto.
And the man of the moment did not disappoint. His choice of words, style of delivery of his messaging, and the non-verbal reactions to the energy from the crowd were crisp as the experienced orator delivered hard-hitting political punches against Ruto and his administration.
“I will not fail you,” said Sifuna, as jubilant crowds chanted his name.
He presented Linda Mwananchi as the team with good intentions for Kenyans and rallied the region to reject the president’s incursions and attempts to rally the region to back his reelection pursuit.
"We have no personal beef or hatred against President Ruto, but we have a big problem with how he has messed up this country. We have a collapsed healthcare system where SHA is not working, the university funding model is not working, and workers are crying because he has raided their payslips. They have nothing to smile about," said Sifuna.
Sifuna said the Opposition must begin consultations early to avoid divisions that could weaken its bid for power. The message was echoed by other leaders who called for a united front against Ruto.
"As we head to the 2027 General Election, as the Opposition we must sit down and agree to have one presidential aspirant who is going to face Ruto and take him home. That is the only way of defeating him," Sifuna told the crowd.
His remarks come amid growing political realignments and heightened campaigns by both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and Opposition leaders ahead of the next general election.
Seeking to reassure supporters, Sifuna dismissed speculation that the Opposition could fracture because of competing presidential ambitions, insisting that its leaders remained focused on presenting a united front.
"We are not going to split or have divisions in the Opposition. We must remain united and speak with one voice so that we can liberate Kenyans from the chains of suffering and what we believe is bad governance under President Ruto," he said.
The senator accused President Ruto's administration of failing to fulfil key campaign promises and claimed ordinary Kenyans were bearing the burden of economic hardship.
He criticised the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the university funding model and government policies affecting workers, saying they had left many citizens frustrated.
He added, "That is why we are saying our number one agenda is to remove him from power."
Sifuna further accused the President of failing to uphold constitutional principles and criticised the government's handling of recent anti-government demonstrations.
"Ruto has disregarded the Constitution, and he has been killing our people, especially by shooting youths in the legs. We must ensure we don't have such a leader," he said.
Reading from the reception of the brigade and the acceptance of Sifuna, fresh political realignments with implications on next year’s general elections are in the offing.
At Mwangaza Grounds in Kitale, the venue filled to capacity long before the leaders arrived, leaving little room for movement as supporters occupied virtually every available space around the podium.
The situation became so overwhelming that several leaders found it difficult to access the stage, forcing security officers and supporters to lift some of them through the crowd before they could take their seats.
For nearly 30 minutes, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, who served as the master of ceremonies, together with security personnel, struggled to clear the podium that had itself been occupied by excited supporters before speeches could begin.
The scenes evoked memories among many supporters of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga's political rallies, which often attracted huge organic crowds without elaborate mobilisation.
Earlier at Moi's Bridge, a strategic commercial centre bordering Trans Nzoia, Kakamega and Uasin Gishu counties, supporters had gathered for hours awaiting the arrival of the opposition convoy.
The Linda Mwananchi team had briefly camped at nearby Matunda before proceeding to the first stopover.
Unable to wait any longer, hundreds of jubilant supporters marched nearly a kilometre from Moi's Bridge towards Matunda in anticipation of meeting the leaders.
The procession eventually met Sifuna's convoy before returning to Moi's Bridge, where the opposition leaders addressed the mammoth gathering.
By mid-morning, sections of the busy Kitale-Eldoret Highway experienced heavy traffic disruption as supporters occupied roadsides and converged in trading centres awaiting the convoy.
When the leaders finally arrived shortly after midday, jubilant supporters poured into the streets, singing, dancing and chanting slogans as the convoy slowly made its way through the packed town.
Many climbed onto rooftops and balconies of nearby buildings in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the opposition leaders.
The loudest cheers erupted when Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya introduced Sifuna to the gathering, prompting prolonged chants of "Sisi ni Sifuna" and "One Term" directed at President Ruto.
Throughout the rallies, speaker after speaker raised Sifuna's hand before leaving the podium, presenting him to supporters as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
Natembeya called on Western Kenya leaders to unite behind Sifuna, saying he had put aside his own ambitions for the sake of regional unity.
"There are some people who think that I will fight with Sifuna; that one will not happen. I have shelved my personal ambition to support our very own son," said Natembeya.
Natembeya further assured supporters that their votes would be protected during the next General Election.
"The work of our people is to vote and go home; our votes will not be stolen, and our people should not be duped that Ruto cannot be defeated. I want to tell him that the margin will be huge and if he tried to steal he will meet with me," said Natembeya.
The development presents Ruto with a fresh headache on how to counter a growing wave of dissent and the rise of a new opponent in the race to counter his reelection bid.
He has spent millions in mobilisation efforts, deployed one of his trusted allies in the form of Farouk Kibet and experienced politician Kenneth Lusaka to lead his grassroots mobilisation, as other titans led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula lead another drive.
Yet, yesterday, residents chanted messages of disapproval against the president and his allies. In Kitale, residents responded in unison as Natembeya led in chants to reject them. Like Sifuna, Natembeya has adopted the Tawe slogan to push back against Mudavadi, Wetangula, the ODM and Ford Kenya parties.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale urged the Luhya community to unite behind what he described as a new generation of leadership. He claimed Sifuna will be the compromise candidate for the opposition.
"We have the tendency of Luhya fighting their own but this time round we have me mentored our young people and it is time for Sifuna and Natembeya and I we are going to speak to Gachagua, Kalonzo and Fred Matiang'i and rally our community to support Sifuna's presidential bid so that we can produce a president," said Khalwale.
He added: "We want our people to elect leaders allied to Linda Mwananchi in Western because we want to do away with Musalia, Wetang'ula and Oparanya."
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino maintained that the time has come for change, citing President William Ruto's failure to fulfil most of his campaign promises.
"Ruto lied to Kenyans that he would give them jobs. Four years down the line, youths have no jobs. He has messed up the education sector, where many needy students have been locked out of education. SHA is not working, and Kenyans are struggling to access affordable and quality medical services. The time has come for him to pack his belongings and go, and it is the United Opposition that is going to take him home," said Babu.
Babu urged their supporters to turn out in large numbers and vote out Ruto in 2027, assuring them that their votes would be protected.
"We are going to defeat Ruto by a large margin so that he cannot even think of stealing the election, and our supporters should know that our votes will not be stolen at any cost. We want Kenyans to stand with Linda Mwananchi and Sifuna so that we can liberate Kenyans," said Babu.
Siaya Governor James Orengo promised Kenyans that the Linda Mwananchi Movement and the Opposition would remain united to guarantee a landslide victory against Ruto.
"I want to promise you people here in Kitale that we are going to walk together to remove Ruto from power. He has failed by killing young people, and this time I will not go to court because the margin will be huge," said Orengo.
He added, "We want to urge our people to reject the ODM Linda Ground wing. Ruto has messed up and destroyed 'Baba's' legacy, and he should not be supported. I also want to urge the Luhya people, who have always walked with the late 'Baba', to walk with Sifuna and support him."
For the Gen Zs, the youthful Sifuna could just be their man to dislodge a president they paid the heavy price of abductions, detentions and murder in the 2024 attempt to protest him out of power.
Today, the Linda Mwanainchi brigade will pitch tent in Bungoma for another rally.
Report by Benard Lusigi, Osinde Obare and Harold Odhiambo