Wamboka Tells Kalonzo, Gachagua and Matiang’i to Back Sifuna for 2027

The political contest ahead of the 2027 General Election is taking a new turn, with allies of the Linda Mwananchi movement calling on opposition heavyweights Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua and Fred Matiang’i to abandon their presidential ambitions and rally behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka made the appeal after the Linda Mwananchi brigade concluded a three-day political tour of Western Kenya, where its leaders said they witnessed growing grassroots support for Sifuna.

Wamboka said the team held nearly 22 rallies across the region in three days, describing the tour as a major boost for Sifuna’s presidential bid.

He said the crowds included young people, women, political aspirants and ordinary voters, which he argued demonstrated growing interest in Sifuna beyond Nairobi.

“We respect you, Kalonzo, Gachagua and Matiang’i. We know you have what it takes but in 2027, we ask you to stand with Sifuna,” Wamboka said.

Wamboka: Western Kenya is responding to Sifuna

The Bumula MP said Sifuna's campaign was gaining traction because of its focus on issues affecting ordinary people, particularly in Western Kenya.

He cited the decline of the region's industrial base and the struggles facing the sugar sector, singling out Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories.

Wamboka argued that the economic challenges facing farmers and workers should be at the centre of the 2027 political conversation.

He also turned his criticism on National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, accusing him of failing to deliver on development promises made to Bungoma residents.

Wamboka cited unfinished roads and the stalled Bungoma stadium, arguing that several projects remained inadequately funded despite commitments made during previous campaigns.

He further questioned Wetang’ula’s political record and urged voters to judge leaders by their delivery rather than political speeches.

‘Sifuna is going for president’

Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, another prominent figure in the Linda Mwananchi campaign, said the Western Kenya tour had demonstrated that Sifuna's presidential ambitions were gaining momentum.

“Edwin Sifuna is going for president, nothing else,” Kalasinga said.

Kalasinga also sought to portray the movement as a grassroots-driven political project, saying ordinary supporters were contributing small amounts towards its activities rather than relying on wealthy political financiers.

He claimed the crowds attending the rallies were turning up voluntarily.

Linda Mwananchi heads to Homa Bay

Kalasinga announced that the Linda Mwananchi team plans to hold a rally in Homa Bay on August 16, despite what he described as warnings against the event.

He insisted that Sifuna has a constitutional right to campaign anywhere in Kenya and called for political competition to remain peaceful.

The Kabuchai MP warned against attempts to block the rally or restrict political activity, saying Kenya belongs to all its citizens regardless of their political affiliations.

Wamboka and Kalasinga also vowed to defend the Linda Mwananchi name as the movement expands its political activities.

Pressure builds for opposition unity

The latest calls place Sifuna's emerging presidential campaign at the centre of a wider debate over opposition unity ahead of the 2027 election.

With Kalonzo, Gachagua and Matiang’i all associated with the opposition political space, the demand that they step aside for Sifuna signals an increasingly competitive battle over who will emerge as a leading challenger in 2027.

For now, however, the question remains whether the emerging grassroots momentum around Sifuna can translate into a broader opposition coalition—or deepen the competition among leaders seeking the same political space.