Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna addressing a crowd during a linda mwananchi rallyThe emergence of the Linda Mwananchi faction in ODM after the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, led by former secretary general Edwin Sifuna, seems to have placed him in a good position to become the new western Kenya kingpin, as his popularity has been increasing day by day. The first rally Linda Mwananchi held was in Busia County, where they were welcomed by the residents despite the fact that leaders in the county, including the governor, did not attend. Many people had assumed that the rally wouldn’t bear much in the county, which went contrary to their expectations.
The group later on organized a rally in Kakamega County, and just like it was in Busia County, the top ODM leaders in the county did not attend the rally, and there were some attempts to disrupt the rally, but the residents made sure that the rally was a success.
Busia residents welcoming Linda Mwananchi leadersThe latest event that seems to be placing Edwin Sifuna as the western Kenya leader was during the burial of the former Bungoma County governor’s father, Wycliffe Wangamati, Mzee Patrick Wangamati, where leaders from Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, and Bungoma said it’s time for the old folks who have been in politics for a long time to step aside and leave Sifuna and other young emerging leaders to take over.
However, some of the leaders, including Bungoma governor, have been highly criticized by youths in the county who deemed him as the enemy of progress for downgrading Sifuna, which forced him to come out clearly to rectify his statement, saying that he never said that Sifuna can’t be the president but meant that he should be patient. The statement, which seems to be supported by former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala, who, while speaking to Amaica Media, said that Sifuna can be the western leader front runner but cannot vie for the presidency seat for now.
Linda Mwananchi leaders at transnzoia governor’s home after a meeting on July 5thMoreover, the faction held a meeting on July 5th, gathering leaders like Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi, Bumula member of Parliament Jack Wamboka, Kabuchai member of Parliament Majimbo Kalasinga , Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, Governor George Natembeya, and other leaders agreed in unison to make a rally on 25th July 2026 in Trans-Nzoia and later in Bungoma on 26th July, where they are expected to announce their new political wave towards 2027. Governor Natembeya has called on all their supporters to turn up in large numbers to support them during both events, urging them to also register as voters.