A political wave in support of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is gathering momentum across Western Kenya, with the region’s political bigwigs throwing their weight behind his emerging presidential bid.
The growing movement has triggered a haemorrhage in the dominant Western Kenya parties, with Ford Kenya and DAP-K being the hardest hit.
The exodus has reached a crescendo as the Linda Mwananchi group stages Sifuna’s homecoming rallies in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Among those who have joined Sifuna’s camp is Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, the brother of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Ironically, Wetang’ula, alongside Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, is leading President William Ruto’s re-election bid in Western Kenya.
Veteran politician and Luhya Council of Elders chairperson Noah Wekesa has also thrown his weight behind Sifuna.
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and former Bumula MP Wakoli Bifwoli have also publicly expressed support for Sifuna's presidential quest.
In a development that underscores the widening appeal of the movement, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala have also voiced support for Sifuna's candidature despite coming from different political formations.
Wanyonyi, an elected ODM MP, has already branded his campaign posters with pictures of Sifuna in his Bungoma gubernatorial campaign.
The Star has established that Wanyonyi will be unveiled on Sunday during Linda Mwananchi’s Bungoma rally.
Sifuna also has in his Linda Mwananchi movement a number of MPs from the region, including Jack Wanami (Bumula, DAP-K), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai, Ford Kenya), Oundo Midenyo (Funyula, ODM), Senator Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga, ODM) and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
The movement has lined up back-to-back rallies in the two counties, gatherings that insiders describe as Sifuna’s homecoming as he positions himself for the country’s top job.
Sifuna, though elected in Nairobi, hails from Bungoma county.
His allies have billed the weekend rallies as a defining moment for the senator and the Linda Mwananchi movement.
“Anybody not saying Sifuna here will not get even a vote of a mad man,” Bifwoli said.
Preparations for the twin rallies have intensified, with Natembeya chairing mobilisation meetings and urging residents to turn out in large numbers.
“All residents of Trans Nzoia county and the Western region are cordially invited to attend as we honour one of our own,” Natembeya said.
Organisers, including Wamunyinyi, say the events will mark a defining moment in Sifuna's political journey as he seeks to consolidate support in the region, widely regarded as his political backyard.
“All the people from Kanduyi and Western, we welcome everyone for this homecoming. All political parties are welcome to this journey with Sifuna,” Wamunyinyi said.
“No leader from Western has reached the level Sifuna has reached. All of us must walk with Sifuna.”
Wanami told the Star of plans to stage a grand political coronation of Sifuna as the Luhya community's kingpin during a subsequent gathering in Kakamega.
Kakamega is the cultural and political headquarters of the Luhya nation.
“We will coronate Sifuna in Kakamega. You know Kakamega is the headquarters of Western,” Wanami said.
He described the weekend rallies as part of the movement’s normal tours across the country.
“These are just the normal rallies, only that Sifuna is coming home. We have done Busia, Vihiga and Kakamega counties and remained with only Trans Nzoia and Bungoma,” he said.
Linda Mwananchi spokesperson and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi also confirmed the weekend twin rallies would be normal Linda Mwananchi rallies, dismissing claims the movement would unveil its political vehicle in Bungoma.
“It is a normal Linda Mwananchi rally. The same as the one we had in Taita Taveta last weekend,” he told the Star on the phone.
The ceremony is expected to position him as the region's undisputed national political face ahead of next year's elections.
The Western mobilisation is also seen as laying the foundation for the next phase of Sifuna's political project.
According to Wanami, the team plans to unveil its new political party in Nairobi in September before formally presenting Sifuna as its presidential candidate at a national convention in December.
“We are going to do the rallies. After that, we will come to Nairobi to launch the party, Linda Mwananchi. We will launch the party in September,” he said.
“In December, we will unveil Sifuna as our presidential candidate and his deputy.”
The Bumula lawmaker also regretted the 'frustrations' from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, threatening the movement would camp outside the ORPP's offices.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Political observers say Western Kenya could emerge as the launch pad for Sifuna's bid to build a national coalition capable of challenging President William Ruto in the 2027 general election.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna
