Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has told Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna that he should wait before seeking Kenya’s presidency.
Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, Atwoli said Sifuna had a future in national politics but needed more time to build the political organisation required for a presidential campaign.
“The time is not now for Edwin Sifuna,” Atwoli said during a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) engagement with Western Kenya aspirants at Tom Mboya Labour College.
“He is going to be there after us, but the time is not now.”
Atwoli, one of Kenya’s longest-serving trade union leaders, said political figures around Sifuna should be candid about the challenges of a presidential race rather than simply encouraging his ambitions.
“We must be sincere, specific and honest and tell him his time is not now,” he said.
He also questioned whether Sifuna had assembled the political machinery needed to compete nationally.
“You cannot start going round seeking support before you have put together a team,” Atwoli said.
His comments come as Sifuna’s political profile has grown ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Nairobi senator has been associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been building support across the country and considering whether to field a presidential candidate.
Sifuna has previously said he would not reject a presidential bid if Kenyans collectively called for one. But he has also acknowledged that Linda Mwananchi needs to expand its national reach before making a final decision.
In July, Sifuna said the movement had visited only a fraction of Kenya’s 47 counties and intended to gauge its support across the country before settling on its presidential plans.
That approach contrasts with the growing calls from some political allies for him to take a more prominent role in the 2027 race. Leaders linked to Linda Mwananchi endorsed him for the presidential contest in July, although Sifuna has continued to frame the question as one that should be decided through wider consultation.
Atwoli, however, said Sifuna had not travelled far enough politically to demonstrate readiness for the country’s highest office.
“You have not even done a quarter of the journey,” he said.
The remarks were made as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi addressed UDA aspirants from Western Kenya at the same meeting.
Mudavadi urged politicians to concentrate on grassroots organisation, credible party nominations and voter registration as parties prepare for the 2027 election. He said party tickets should be won through the support of voters rather than treated as an entitlement.
The debate over Sifuna’s political future comes at a time when opposition figures are weighing how to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
For Sifuna, the immediate task appears to be expanding Linda Mwananchi’s reach and determining whether it can develop the national support needed for a serious presidential campaign.
For Atwoli, the message is simpler: the ambition may have a future, but the moment has not yet arrived.
About the Author
