Edwin Sifuna: Will he Work with Riggy G?

There was pomp and jubilation as Edwin Sifuna entered his home ground last weekend. Mammoth crowds welcomed his Linda Mwananchi entourage as it entered Bungoma.

In fact, business in Kanduyi and the rest of Bungoma stopped, underlining that Sunday, 26^th was Sifuna’s day. Interestingly, some youths had cut some palm leaves to welcome him the way believers met Jesus on Palm Sunday.

Later, as Linda Mwananchi made speeches at the Bungoma Posta Grounds, all one could see was a sea of people. In fact, from the dais, it appeared as if the people extended to the horizon.

The previous day, residents of Trans Nzoia had given Sifuna a presidential welcome. Crowds thronged the streets and danced as they took photographs of the jubilation.

The weekend attendance was a show of love not many politicians have managed to attract in modern times. Arguably, the only other politician who managed such crowds was the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Big Question: Will the crowds remain loyal?

Edwin Sifuna: The Man of the Moment

Edwin Sifuna is the man of the moment, and whom supporters view as carrying Raila Odinga’s mantle.

As many political analysts have pointed out, he is not only educated, but also charismatic, eloquent, and bold.

And while a few other politicians have those qualities, a combination of other things set him aside. For example, he has no political baggage, and he seems to act out of conviction.

And unlike many politicians, when the going gets rough he does not bail.

As he once mentioned, many senators agreed it was bad to entrust a foreigner with Jomo Kenyatta airport operations. In other words, they did not want the government to release those responsibilities to Gautam Adani, the Indian Billionaire.

Yet after coaxing from government operatives, they began to shy away. Soon, Sifuna noted, only Senator Richard Onyonka remained on his side, continuing to voice his opposition to the Adani deal.

Another thing is that Sifuna is not beholden to financial cartels and elitist lobby groups. In fact, it is understandable that he is accepting donations from the common Kenyan to fund his rallies.

If anyone with a big pocket wants to fund Linda Mwananchi, he says, it will be a personal wish. In short, it will not be because the team went to solicit funds; something that makes aspirants make unhealthy promises.

That said, can Linda Mwananchi stop President Ruto’s second term? Or will Sifuna seek to work with other opposition leaders in preparation for the 2027 general elections?

Will he, for a start, work with Rigathi Gachagua, probably the most influential opposition leader at the moment?

A Leaf from Rigathi Gachagua’s Playbook

Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi faction of ODM are doing very well on the political scene. They are pulling crowds and gaining attention with little effort.

However, they need to borrow a leaf from Rigathi Gachagua’s playbook. For example, there is plenty to learn from the way Gachagua and his team ran the recent Ol Kalou by-elections.

This is important as Linda Mwananchi continues to attract renegades from the government and other parties.

For starters, it will help to have principles by which to abide as Linda Mwananchi. Then, anyone wishing to join the movement can assess if they fit there or not.

For instance, money has been central in Kenyan politics, and old habits die hard. To Linda Mwananchi: Do not allow anyone to use money or other resources to antagonize your base.

Also, the Linda Mwananchi leadership has endeared itself to Kenyans across the country without insulting anyone. Keep it that way. Intimidating people through insults is part of the old tradition Kenyans are fed up with. And some renegades might drag it along to your camp.

Remember: When people think of Linda Mwananchi, they mainly see Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, George Natembeya, Godfrey Osotsi, and James Orengo. And that team cannot afford to erode the immense goodwill it has built in a short time.

In Ol Kalou, Senator Methu urged the constituents to let everyone be: DCP and those opposed to them. He made the voter feel respected. He even stated publicly that his party had no problem with anyone listening to the government emissaries.

He let his constituents accept gifts from the government without feeling guilty about it. All he urged them to do was vote for the right candidate when the time came.

Fulfilling the Gen Z Dream

In reality, the leadership of Senators Edwin Sifuna and John Methu must be reviving the hope of many Gen Zs. After all, among the things Gen Zs dislike is dirty politics.

Another reality is that there are still a few capable old guards with a history of clean politics.

The other question is: Is Linda Mwananchi ready to work with like-minded principals to actualize Ruto’s “one-term”?

Will Edwin Sifuna manage to remain sober, without letting the power he now yields enter his head? Will he and his Linda Mwananchi team keep their eyes on the ball?

Will they be open to sharing leadership with like-minded political partners, to ensure the opposition has unity of purpose?

Once again: Will they liaise with His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the other massively popular opposition politician? Kenyans are watching, and they are hopeful.