Linda Mwananchi to Unveil Sifuna's Running Mate

A section of political leaders in Western Kenya has come together to shape the politics of the Luhya community ahead of next year’s General Election.

The leaders, who meet under the aegis of the Linda Mwanachi Movement  at the home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, plan to begin the Western Kenya meet-the-people tour next Saturday in Kitale.

They are expected to announce Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as their preferred candidate in the 2027 presidential contest, along with his running mate and the political party they will ride on.

Present during a closed-door meeting at Natembeya’s Milimani residence in Kitale were

Sifuna, his Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Osotsi, MPs Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai) and Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Busia speaker Frederick Odilo, Trans-Nzoia County Assembly clerk Moses Lupao and several MCAs drawn from Western region.

The 10-hour meeting endorsed Sifuna as the presidential candidate, with Natembeya named the movement's spokesperson and tasked with coordinating Sifuna's presidential campaigns across the entire Western region.

The movement's leaders hinted that they are set to make public Sifuna's running mate and the party to ride on to State House next Saturday during a rally in Kitale town on July 25.

The next morning, the leaders will attend a gathering in Bungoma, where Bukusu elders are scheduled to bless Sifuna ahead of a series of meet-the-people tours in the 38 constituencies in Western Kenya.

The announcement of Natembeya's appointment as Linda Mwananchi movement spokesperson and Edwin Sifuna's presidential campaign coordinator for the Western region puts him on a warpath with the likes of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who have vowed to teach him a political lesson.

Last month, during a rally in Kitale, the United Alternative government team, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, tasked Natembeya  with spearheading its campaigns in the region.

Their plans are likely to clash with another team of leaders from the region who have been pushing the region to support President Ruto's re-election.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula told The Standard that they are holding a series of rallies, including inspections of development projects initiated by both the national and county governments.

"We are going to do parallel rallies for Ruto for two terms. We shall inspect projects launched by Ruto and market him as the best bet," said Savula.

Unconfirmed reports from the region indicate growing tensions as the clock ticks to the scheduled rallies by the Linda Mwananchi movement.

Injuries inflicted on Wetangula by Natembeya after humiliating him during the Kabuchai/Chwele ward by-election are still fresh.

Natembeya's candidate, Eric Wekesa, contesting on an independent ticket, floored Wetangula's Ford Kenya candidate, Vincent Maundu.

The outcome has since widened the bad blood between Natembeya and Wetangula, with the Ford Kenya leader vowing to do everything possible to dislodge the governor from power.

While President Ruto's campaign coordinating team, led by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, has hit the ground to lure residents back to the president for a second term, the Linda Mwananchi movement and United Alternative Government are employing strategies to marshal the vote in their favour.

United Alternative Government has held well-attended rallies in the region amid violent attacks allegedly organised by leaders allied to the broad-based government.

The Linda Mwananchi movement leaders have warned that the planned rallies will be earth-shaking and the mother of all rallies in the region.

"We have agreed to hold rallies starting this Saturday in Kitale and a gathering in Bungoma where elders are expected to bless Sifuna and the movement to roll out campaigns across Western region. It will not be business as usual but earth-shaking rallies and mother of all rallies," Natembeya warned.

Natembeya accused some leaders of the region of continued political status quo to eat and fill their stomachs using the Western vote as residents suffer in abject poverty.

The leaders outlined plans to mobilise the Luhya nation to vote as a bloc to secure a significant stake in the next government.

It is worth waiting to see how Sifuna is received in Western Kenya when the movement ignites rallies.

Savulu dismissed the rallies as a waste of time and inconsequential.

He also termed Sifuna's presidential bid as unworkable, arguing that the only chance for the Luhya community is to succeed Ruto in 2032.

"This is not the first time a Luhya is running for presidency. Wamalwa lost 2 times. Mudavadi lost once. The only chance is to succeed Ruto in 2032," said Savula

Ruto's campaign team has promised to deliver the Western vote to secure his second term in office, amid growing concern that he is yet to honour some of the pre-election development pledges for the region.