Edwin Sifuna leads charged Linda Mwananchi Rally as ODM faction targets presidency

The internal battle within the Orange Democratic Movement intensified after Secretary General Edwin Sifuna led a charged rally in Kakamega, where his faction signaled ambitions to seek the presidency through a revamped opposition alliance. The Saturday, February 21 rally—part of the Linda Mwananchi Tour—attracted thousands despite an attempt to disrupt the event when teargas was hurled toward the dais. Speaker after speaker urged Sifuna and his team to pursue national leadership, framing the movement as a defender of ordinary Kenyans. Suba South MP Caroli Omondi openly declared that the faction would use the Azimio la Umoja coalition to negotiate with other opposition parties opposed to President William Ruto, with the goal of building a formidable voting bloc. “We will, through the Azimio La Umoja coalition, negotiate with other parties to form a formidable force with 16 million votes,” Omondi said. Sifuna remained defiant, telling supporters that the mobilization drive would continue nationwide despite political pushback and earlier security concerns. The rally drew several prominent leaders, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka. The leaders accused unnamed political actors of attempting to weaken ODM, insisting that the party’s leadership structure remained intact. “He wants to kill Raila Odinga’s party. The Secretary General of ODM remains Edwin Sifuna. This movement that has begun here in Kakamega will go all the way to the Coast, Turkana and Kisumu,” Orengo told the crowd. He added that Raila Odinga’s political vision was anchored on a 10-point agenda and reminded supporters that an existing memorandum of understanding barred ODM from entering coalition arrangements outside Azimio. The rally proceeded largely peacefully despite earlier warnings from Western Regional Police Commander Isaak Mahoud, who said security agencies had intelligence suggesting some attendees might be armed. “We have said this movement will not end. Teargas cannot stop it. Hot water cannot stop it. The government cannot stop it. It must continue,” Babu Owino declared.