Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has promised voters that he will not make unrealistic pledges simply to win the presidency in 2027.
Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi movement’s tour of Meru on Sunday, Sifuna said his upbringing had taught him to be honest with Kenyans about what a government can deliver.
“As Sifuna, I will not lie to Kenyans to get elected President,” he said. “I will always tell Kenyans the truth.”
He said political leaders should be open about the country’s problems and the time needed to address them, rather than offering quick solutions during election campaigns.
“You can be loved by saying the truth,” Sifuna said. “I will tell Kenyans what is achievable within what time and what is not.”
His comments come as political activity gathers pace ahead of the 2027 General Election. Sifuna has emerged as one of the leading figures in the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been taking its opposition message to different parts of the country.
Opposition prepares alternative plan
Sifuna also responded to President William Ruto’s repeated criticism that the Opposition lacks a clear alternative to the government’s development agenda.
He said the Opposition would prepare its own manifesto and base it on the Constitution.
“President Ruto has been saying we do not have plans,” Sifuna said. “We will make a manifesto that respects the Constitution. We want to live in a democratic society.”
The senator accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of falling short of some of its 2022 campaign commitments. He pointed to what he described as a shrinking democratic space and limited improvements in the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
He also cited boda boda riders and small traders, saying they had not received the economic gains promised during the last election.
Sifuna questioned the government’s proposed Vision 2060 plan, arguing that the administration should first account for its existing commitments before introducing another long-term blueprint. His criticism echoed remarks he made in Meru on Sunday against the proposed plan.
Babu backs Sifuna
The Meru tour brought together several opposition figures, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
Owino gave Sifuna his backing and urged opposition leaders to unite behind a common political programme.
“I support Sifuna fully,” Owino said. “We have gone through a lot in ODM together. I am 100 per cent with you, Sifuna.”
He also called on leaders associated with other opposition camps, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mwangaza, to work together ahead of the election.
The Meru visit is part of Linda Mwananchi’s broader grassroots mobilisation campaign. The movement has been seeking to expand its reach beyond its traditional political bases as parties and potential presidential candidates begin positioning themselves for 2027.
For Sifuna, the central message in Meru was clear: his presidential ambitions would be built, he said, on what voters can realistically expect rather than promises designed only to win their support.
About the Author
