Gumo endorses Sifuna's intention for presidency

Linda Mwanainchi team led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during a rally at Mwangaza grounds in Kitale town on July 25, 2026. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Former Westlands MP Fred Gumo is among the latest Luhya elders and politicians to declare support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for the top job.

He has also told off National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to forget presidential dreams in 2032,  saying they were given a chance but failed.

Gumo also told the duo that they risk going into political oblivion if they do not support Sifuna.

The move comes as Sifuna and his Linda Mwananchi allies are on a two-day tour of Western with planned rallies yesterday in Kitale in Trans-Nzoia  County on and today in Bungoma County, where a major announcement is expected at the Posta Grounds.

The rallies come a few days after he was ejected and later removed as the Senate Deputy Minority Whip and replaced by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch.

The move also comes a few months after he was removed as secretary general of Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) party, a move which has angered the Luhya community.

Speaking during an interview with Bungoma-based West TV on Friday, Gumo said it's time for Sifuna to shine and urged all Luhyas to give him the necessary support he needs.

“When a child reaches circumcision time in Luhya tradition, you cannot stop him; even if you see others going to be circumcised, he runs and join them and get circumcised even without you as parents knowing. Sifuna has reached that time of circumcision,” said Gumo, referring to the readiness of Sifuna to go for the big post.

He added: “Sifuna has not come out openly to say he wants to be President or is seeking votes. They are Kenyans and youth who have called him severally and asked him come and lead them. You have seen him going to many rallies without money, but the crowd he pulls, no other person can do that without money.”

He said he has been able to visit various places, including Kisumu itself, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kitengela, Taita Taveta among other places and you have seen how many people come out to support him, with youth saying they are Sifuna.

Gumo said luck does not come twice and therefore he should take this opportunity to chart his political future.

“Luck only comes once, and if you delay and say you’re thinking, it goes away. So this is Sifuna’s time. Let us give him support; if other people across the country are giving him support, why not us as his parents? I therefore appeal to all Luhyas to give him support,” he said.

He said for a long time, Luhyas have been despised as people who cannot unite and rally towards one leader like Luos, Kalenjins or Kikuyus, but this is the time.

Asked on whether Sifuna can be the sixth president of Kenya, he responded in affirmation.

“It is possible; who knew  President William Ruto would be a president? Ruto built himself when he opposed the Constitution and that is when his people supported him and became known and also Sifuna can be a president," said Gumo.

Gumo told off Luhya leaders including Wetangula and Mudavadi, saying the community gave them a chance but failed, and it cannot wait until 2032.

Gumo said he has spoken to many other Luhya elders and leaders including former Busia County Senator and Attorney General Amos Wako and said they support Sifuna.

Gumo cautioned Wetangula and Mudavadi, saying they risk being politically irrelevant if they do not go with Sifuna’s wave.

Gumo said the fact that it's Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet who is calling the shots in Western means that Mudavadi and Wetangula being in government is not that powerful.