By Anderson Ojwang

As in the biblical parable of the mustard seed, the Linda Mwananchi group, from a tiny, humble beginning, is fast becoming and growing into the country’s expansive and prolific political outfit and movement.

Already, the Linda train has left the station and a storm swirls around it as it embarks on its third and most decisive rally in Kakamega, the political forte of the late Raila Amollo Odinga and the home of King Mumia of the Nabongo Kingdom.

From Busia, Kenya’s border with Uganda, the wave began even before the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Executive Council (NEC) sat in Kilifi County to sack the party Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, from the seat. The Busia wave caused panic within and across the political divide in the country and within ODM, culminating in the NEC, under party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, sacking Sifuna.

Interestingly, the Busia nostalgia prompted the NEC to appoint Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo as Sifuna’s replacement — a move that backfired immediately at the press conference, with the new Secretary General failing to read out her name as the new SG and instead reading “me.”

Faced with the pressure of the cameras and the fourth estate, the new SG found the pronunciation of “constitutionalism” a little hard to crack, leaving Kenyans to mimic her.

The sacking became the political matchbox that transformed the country’s political landscape, with Sifuna posting on his X handle, “Tukutane Kite.”

The announcement triggered political tectonics in the country, and the subsequent press conference attended by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, and the icing on the cake — the presence of Raila’s younger daughter, Winnie Odinga — became the mustard seed.

Previously, Winnie had written on X after the sacking, “It is not well,” which galvanized the team. Raila’s younger sister, Ruth Odinga, siding with Sifuna against his elder brother, added more wood to the fire. Oburu was left bubbling monotonously about the friendship and love he shared with Raila.

The Kakamega Linda Mwananchi rally has not only caused panic and fear in Oburu’s Linda Ground and the United Opposition, but also in President William Ruto’s camp.

It has pushed the United Opposition from boardroom meetings, unending press conferences, and a monotonous ring campaign in Mt. Kenya, Ukambani, and Narok to move to other parts of the country.

Today, the United Opposition will be in Nyamira while the Linda Ground is in Siaya town, as all eyes remain on Kakamega, where the Linda Mwananchi train will converge.

Stung by the emerging new political wave, President Ruto on Monday held a consultative meeting with MPs from Kakamega County, in what appeared to be a move aimed at containing the group and possibly diminishing the gains made so far.

The train is currently witnessing an upsurge of new followers, including Members of County Assemblies, Members of Parliament, aspirants, gubernatorial aspirants, and women representative aspirants across the country.

Kenyans of goodwill also donated a van fully equipped with a public address system after the mess witnessed last weekend in Kitengela.

Sifuna wrote on his X handle, “We saw you struggling with sound. Bwana kumbe you guys are serious! They will not believe! Sasa ni wapi tunaeza chinja na kuchemedsha hizi 20 nimepewa hapo Kakamega?”

But as the van snaked its way to Kakamega town, it was stoned by unknown people.

Sifuna also wrote, “Confirmed. Amalemba Grounds, Kakamega this Saturday. Karibuni.”

Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga, a close ally of President Ruto, jumped ship and joined the train. She wrote on her X handle, “It’s about the people!” and posted her photo with leaders of the Linda Mwananchi group.

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula promised the Linda Mwananchi group a battle royale and alleged that leaders outside Western were behind a high-stakes political rally scheduled in Kakamega on Saturday.

“If anyone wants to come to Kakamega, he should come himself and stop using surrogates. Those coming to do a rally in Kakamega, what kind of business are they bringing to Kakamega? Let us support President William Ruto as the Luhya community,” he said.

But Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said Kakamega is a democratic county and that Sifuna was welcome.

“Senator Edwin Sifuna, like any other leader, is always welcome in Kakamega County. Our county is a democratic and inclusive space where all are free to engage the people peacefully and respectfully,” he wrote on his X handle.

Yesterday, Orengo capped it by saying the movement was huge and likened it to a tsunami.

“This thing is huge. It is a tsunami. It is unstoppable. No force on earth is going to stand in our way. Rest assured, despite their machinations, this meeting is going to take place, just like they tried in Kitengela and the meeting went on.

They better be prepared for this huge movement of the people and by the people,” he said.

Will Linda Mwananchi live up to the billing, or with time will it fizzle out before the 2027 general elections?

By Anderson Ojwang

Cabinet Secretary for the Treasury John Mbadi has swallowed more than he had bargained for and was forced to seek the support of Luo elders to reconcile the community and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Mbadi, who was at the forefront in calling for the sacking of ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna for opposing the pre-election coalition with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has eaten humble pie and now wants the factions reconciled.

Mbadi, a former ODM chairman, claimed that Sifuna and his allies have switched their allegiance to the opposition.

The CS said Sifuna and his allies cannot hold ODM hostage to meet their personal interests.

“If someone does not want to agree with ODM policies, that person should be left to go so that we know how many people he is leaving with.

Someone like Sifuna will not remain in ODM because already he is conflicted. He is now selling the agenda of someone else. Why are you pretending? You cannot keep him in the party,” he said.

He said the Central Management Committee should not take too long to act because the secretary general has shown indiscipline to party leader Oburu Oginga.

Mbadi and others’ push to have Sifuna sacked culminated after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to relieve the Nairobi senator of the post and replace him with Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo.

However, Sifuna moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which gave him a reprieve, and he remains the party secretary general.

In a statement by ODM, the party said: “The Party National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa today has resolved to relieve Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of his responsibilities with immediate effect.

Effectively, Catherine Omanyo, who is one of the deputy secretaries general, will act in this position until a substantive holder of the office is elected.”

In solidarity with Sifuna was the daughter of former party leader, the late Raila Odinga, EALA MP Winnie Odinga, who wrote on her Facebook page: “It is not well.”

Siaya Governor James Orengo said legally Sifuna remains the party secretary general, as he cannot be removed by those allegedly in office illegally.

“How can you remove a substantive party secretary general while your appointment was an illegality? The plotters are in office illegally and do not have locus standi,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mbadi changed his tune and called for a truce between the two factions to avoid the party splitting further.

“Can you come and tell us why you strongly feel you want to go to the other side and not President Ruto? Come and convince us. This disjointed statement is causing tension,” he said.

Mbadi said the elders were concerned about the emerging division in the party and the community, which they termed unhealthy.

“I met with elders from 17 constituencies in Nairobi and four counties around Nairobi, mainly Machakos, Kiambu, and Kajiado, and they were led by Mzee Tom Odongo.

The elders see unhealthy divisions in ODM. Division in the Luo community spirals into the ODM party and vice versa. The kind of exchanges within the party are not healthy. They do not push the agenda of the community and the party,” he said.

Mbadi’s move comes hot on the heels of the successful Linda Mwananchi rally in Kitengela, where Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo declared that the Linda Ground faction had the party leadership while Linda Mwananchi had the party members.

Babu said last Sunday marked an important moment in the party and defined the two factions.

“Today they have the party, but we have the party members. When they go to State House, do they tell you? They go alone. They are trying to threaten us, but they cannot manage us,” he said.

Orengo said the genuine ODM members were in Kitengela and that those in Mombasa should refund President Ruto his money.

“Watu wa ODM ambao wako Mombasa warudishie Ruto pesa zake. (Those ODM members should refund Ruto his money.) ODM members and leaders are here in Kitengela,” he said.

ODM National Chairperson Governor Gladys Wanga and her entourage were on Tuesday heckled and booed in Ahero and Kendu Bay towns, respectively, over wrangles in the party and pre-election coalition arrangements.

Wanga drove and made a stopover in Ahero Town in what was seen as testing the ground after the failed sacking of Sifuna and differences over the proposed pre-election pact between ODM and President Ruto’s UDA party.

The crowd shouted Babu and Sifuna’s names and chanted: “Wadok e demonstration. Ongee ka uchamo uriambo kendo to duo kuru” (Nothing, nothing—lies, lies. If you ate alone, take it back).

The Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi faction will be in Kakamega this Saturday, while the Oburu-led Linda Ground faction will be in Siaya Town for parallel rallies.

Mama Ida Odinga recently appealed to the party leadership not to destroy the party and asked them to prioritise dialogue over wrangles to avoid disintegration and preserve Raila’s legacy.

“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honour as a matter of service to our country. I want to appeal to those Baba left in the leadership of the party to reflect deeply and sincerely on his dreams for the party and for our country,” she said.

Ida challenged the current leaders in the party to give dialogue a chance and follow Raila’s footsteps in resolving disputes within the party.

“Let us solve the problems of the party by always asking ourselves, what would Baba do under these circumstances?”

By Anderson Ojwang

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has stated that it will field candidates in all vacant seats, a move that may go against its partner, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which wants its strongholds zoned.

Similarly, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has said the party will demand a 50-50 share in the coalition arrangement with President William Ruto’s UDA.

Wanga, speaking in Migori, said they will demand the post of deputy president and an equal number of Cabinet slots and other government appointments.

“We have been mandated to enter into talks with UDA. If they take the presidency, we take the deputy president post. In the Cabinet slots, we share 10-10 each so that we can distribute them among our support bases,” she said.

But as Wanga was placing ODM’s demands, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar was clarifying to party members and prospective aspirants across the country that they would be free to vie anywhere.

“Just like the deputy party leader has said, there is no zoning and everyone will have to fight for themselves to win the seats.

Let those with three votes bring them; those with three hundred votes, let them bring them. You do not need to panic. Why should you be scared if this is your forte?

Bring your votes and we bring our votes so that President Ruto rides to victory. We have no problem with anyone. We have a relationship with ODM, and we support that faction of ODM that wants to unite Kenyans.

We do not support that wing of ODM being financed by Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.

The ODM faction led by party leader Dr Oburu Oginga has been pushing for zoning in the scheduled negotiation talks with President Ruto.

Molo MP Kimani Kuria recently warned political parties against championing zoning, noting that such a practice is likely to interfere with the democratic rights of the electorate, as it promotes regional- and ethnic-based parties that are weak and lack clear manifestos.

Kuria said the proposal by ODM as part of a pre-coalition agreement would deny Kenyans the right to elect the right leaders and deprive them of the ability to demand development, as leaders would depend on party endorsement to win elections.

“As much as we welcome the views of our brothers in ODM and other like-minded parties, personally I am against this idea of zoning for a number of reasons. Zoning is the root cause of tribalism and lack of democracy in some regions of this country,” MP Kuria noted.

Homa Bay MP Opondo Kaluma said one of the conditions in a pre-election coalition agreement with UDA would be zoning, and that it is non-negotiable.

“We must ensure that our bases and strongholds are ring-fenced and left for the ODM party, and zoning is going to occur. Without that, we will have no arrangement,” he said.

The declaration by UDA on zoning is likely to trigger backlash from the ODM faction aligned to Oburu, which may feel disadvantaged in the emerging political dispensation in the post–Raila Amolo Odinga era.

For decades, ODM has awarded direct tickets to preferred candidates, which has negated healthy competition in its strongholds. With the demise of Raila and a more level playing field, ODM now appears disadvantaged and may lose several seats.

Currently, ODM is divided into two factions: the Dr Oburu faction under “Linda Ground” and the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna faction under “Linda Mwananchi.”

The two factions have, in the last two weeks, held parallel rallies. This weekend, Linda Ground will be in Siaya while Linda Mwananchi will be in Kakamega.

Wanga accused Sifuna of showing disrespect to Oburu and going against decisions made by party organs.

The Linda Mwananchi faction is opposed to pre-election coalition talks with President Ruto and wants ODM to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.

Recently, the ODM National Governing Council sacked Sifuna and replaced him with Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo.

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal overturned the sacking and gave Sifuna a reprieve, with Dr Oburu saying Sifuna was the court-recognized party secretary general while Omanyo remained the party secretary general.

The Kakamega Linda Mwananchi tour has sparked a chain of political reactions, with President Ruto holding a consultative meeting with legislators from the county, while his aide Faruk Kibet accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of financing the group.

Speaking in Malava during campaigns for the UDA candidate in the Kabras West Ward by-election, Faruk said Uhuru was financing the group and facilitating the Kakamega meeting.

“Uhuru Kenyatta anatoa pesa ya kuitisha mkutano ambaye sio halali. Nyinyi watu wa Western Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta alikuja hapa? (Uhuru Kenyatta is financing meetings which are illegal. You people of Western Kenya, did Uhuru Kenyatta come to this region?)” he quipped.

With the emerging demands, unfolding political realignments, and shifting scenarios in the country, Oburu’s faction may soon find itself sliding away from the political chessboard.

By Anderson Ojwang

From a soft punch to a murkier bare-knuckle exchange, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga and Oketch Salah, the self-claimed adopted son of the late Raila Amolo Odinga, have taken their spat a notch higher.

Ruth, in an interview with KTN on Wednesday, said she does not know Oketch Salah well and that he should give the family space.

Similarly, Ruth said the recent Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Executive Council (NEC) resolved that Salah should stop speaking on behalf of the party because he is not a party member.

“I really do not know him that well. I am one of the people who are surprised that he talks as if he knows me and knows everybody.

I think in my whole life, I have met Salah three times, and he supposedly claims to have been my brother’s friend.

But I don’t want to focus on him. For me, I feel that if he was my brother’s friend or son, as he calls himself—because I don’t know how he is his son—he should have had the intelligence that if my brother talked and confided in him, he should be able to come out and say what my brother told him,” she said.

Ruth asked Oketch Salah to give the family space to grieve and live as a family.

“For me, Oketch Salah, I would like to ask him to give us the space as a family to be a family,” she said.

But Salah responded that he would not force any relationship with Ruth Odinga and that his relationship was with Raila.

“Let me be clear from the outset: if you do not wish to associate with me, that is entirely your choice. I have never forced myself into your life, and I have never sought your attention. My relationship was with your late brother, and that relationship stood on its own. It had nothing to do with any other member of the family,” he wrote.

Ruth questioned why Oketch Salah hurriedly left India, where he was with Raila, when he heard she was coming to be with her brother.

“By the time I got to India, I never saw him. I am the one who was with my brother when he passed away. So whether he left because he was scared of me coming, I will not be able to tell you. I do not know him, and I would not want to be engaged in talking about him. I heard he was there, apparently being a friend to him,” she said.

Salah claimed he was the one who convinced Raila to allow Ruth to travel to India and that he purchased her travel ticket.

“For the record, I am the one who convinced Baba to have you join us in India after Jeff Oyer called him several times saying that you wanted to come.

I am also the one who arranged your business class ticket on Emirates.

The only reason I returned to Kenya earlier was because Baba personally asked me to go back to Kenya to conclude my son’s wedding, which had been postponed several times due to his health,” he wrote.

Ruth said that at the party’s NEC meeting, they discussed Oketch Salah and agreed that he should not speak on party matters.

“At the party’s NEC, we did talk about the fact that Oketch Salah is not supposed to be allowed to speak on behalf of the party because he is not a party member.

I am surprised that I keep seeing him coming out and doing what he does. Those are the things I was referring to.

The broad-based arrangement is for the government and not the party,” she said.

Salah responded: “Whatever I have done for ODM was not driven by personal interest; it was done at Baba’s request. ODM does not belong to you, or to me, or to any one family. If it does, then let that be stated openly, and I will step away without hesitation.”

Recently, Siaya Governor James Orengo described the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as mystic and mysterious to many of them.

Orengo claimed the circumstances under which Raila died left more questions than answers and expressed optimism that one day the truth would come out.

“I want to say without fear of contradiction that the death of Raila Amolo Odinga is still a mystery to a lot of us. Those who bear responsibility for the death of Raila Amolo Odinga are still out there.

They are silent, but I hope one day we will know the circumstances under which Raila Amolo Odinga passed away,” he said.

Recently, Raila’s daughter Winnie Odinga engaged in a bitter exchange with Oketch Salah over Raila’s health and death.

Winnie Odinga, in a Citizen TV interview, said he was a stranger and should either be taken to Mathari or the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for interrogation.

“I have met Oketch Salah, but I would like to believe nobody really knows him. I also feel sad for him. My father died, and that was a traumatic experience for me.

At least he died with somebody he knew loved him. People need to take care of their loved ones.

When you leave here and take Thika Road, you have two options—you either turn right as if you are going to Mathari or to the DCI—because a flat lie that you were there at the time of my father’s death, when you were not, and talking about things that did not occur is quite dangerous and makes me question a lot of things. What would those intentions be?

He should be rushed to either Mathari or the DCI with immediate effect,” she said.

Oketch recently claimed on his social media platforms that he is Raila’s adopted son and that he was with him at his bedside when he first fell ill and during his final moments.

“I was with Baba Raila Odinga from the time he first fell ill until his final moments on earth. That is a fact. I do not say this for sympathy, relevance, or political mileage; I say it because it is the truth.

I was with Baba throughout his pain. I know what it felt like. There were moments I genuinely thought I was losing him—moments when it was only me and one security guard present, holding Baba, trying to steady him, trying to help him through the pain. This is not a story,” he wrote.

By Anderson Ojwang

For the first time, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, the king of bullfighting, has been upstaged and left to watch from afar as a titanic political bullfight unfolds during the Saturday Linda Mwananchi tour, which has left former President Uhuru Kenyatta with guns directed at him.

If anything, the Saturday Linda Mwananchi meeting in Kakamega is likely to herald the country into the real 2027 campaign season and also determine the future and trajectory of the troubled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Equally, the meeting has left Uhuru with guns trained on him by both the ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga-led faction and President William Ruto’s allies, who have accused him of financing the group.

President Ruto’s aide, Mr Faruk Teigut Kibet, did not mince his words and hit straight at the former president, accusing him of funding the ODM Secretary Edwin Sifuna group to undermine the President.

Speaking in Malava during campaigns for the UDA candidate in the Kabras West Ward by-election, Faruk said Uhuru was financing the group and facilitating the Kakamega meeting.

“Uhuru Kenyatta anatoa pesa ya kuitisha mkutano ambaye sio halali. Nyinyi watu wa Western Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta alikuja hapa? (Uhuru Kenyatta is financing meetings which are illegal. You people of Western Kenya, did Uhuru Kenyatta come to this region?)” he quipped.

Faruk said Uhuru failed to initiate development in Western Kenya and should stop creating division in the country.

“Aliwatengezia barabara? Kwanini unatoa pesa ya kungonganisha Wakenya? Wamama mumeamua aende. Yeye anatoa pesa ya kuzunguka miji mikubwa mikubwa (Did Uhuru construct roads here? Why are you financing meetings to divide Kenyans? Women have decided he should go. He is financing tours in major towns?),” he said.

He pleaded with the people of Malava to reject Saturday’s meeting and support development.

“Eti waliashugaka sijui wapi, eti wanakuja wapi. Watu wa Malava mnasema ashindwe? I don’t know where they were and I don’t know where they are going next. But you people of Malava, do you agree that Uhuru should be defeated in his plot?

Tunajua Uhuru Kenyatta umeanza kutoa pesa ulichukua kwa Wakenya, ndiyo tunakwambia. Hiyo pesa yako unatoa kiholela, serikali itaenda kufunga hiyo pesa yako. Na wewe hakuna kitu utafanya katika hii nchi (We know Uhuru Kenyatta has started financing meetings using money he got from Kenyans. I am warning you that we will freeze your finances, and what will you do?).

Kwani yeye ni nani? Alikuwa President wa Kenya, si anaitwa retired president? Kwani nyinyi mmeenda retire? Wangapi wanasema Uhuru Kenyatta aende? (Who is he? He was President of Kenya and is now a retired president. Have you also retired? How many are saying Uhuru Kenyatta should go?)” he said.

Faruk said they would not entertain divisive politics in the country and asked Uhuru to refrain from it.

“We will not entertain politics of division in this country. They have seen that we are constructing roads from Malava towards Chemasi, which they failed to do. We are committed to developing this region. We know you are financing the rallies, but you will be defeated. Does he think the Luhya are people to be lied to?” he said.

ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed, speaking in Lamu County, accused Uhuru of rocking ODM and asked him to leave the party alone and focus on his Jubilee Party.

“As you have seen since Raila left us, there have been wrangles within our party. The problem we have in ODM is not about the broad-based government or President William Ruto. The problem we have is former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He is the one destroying our party,” he said.

On Monday, the Linda Mwananchi group announced their Saturday rally in Kakamega, which was followed by President Ruto’s consultative meeting with legislators from the county.

The meeting between President Ruto and the legislators sent mixed signals on the political terrain, coming shortly after a section of MPs from the county sided with Sifuna over his sacking.

President Ruto, on his X handle, said he engaged MPs from Kakamega County at State House, Nairobi, on matters of development.

“Our discussions centered on accelerating development projects, including affordable housing, modern markets, road upgrades, the expansion of Kakamega Airport, completion of Bukhungu Stadium, and deepening access to electricity and water, among others.

We undertake to work with all leaders, irrespective of their political persuasions, to move our country forward and leave no one behind,” he wrote.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said the Linda Mwananchi tour is scheduled for this Saturday and urged the Luhya community to turn up in large numbers.

He wrote on his X handle: “Mbale Town and Kakamega Town mko tayari. Saturday 21st February 2026. Kenya needs renaissance.”

On President Ruto’s meeting with MPs from the county, Amisi questioned whether the political pressure on the President was increasing or decreasing.

He wrote on his X handle, accompanied by a photo of President Ruto with the MPs: “Does pressure increase or decrease?”

Over the weekend, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera supported ODM Secretary Edwin Sifuna, saying his removal was unfair, unconstitutional, and that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself.

“As a founder member of the party, I have today made it clear that ODM must live by its ideals, including promoting democracy and espousing fairness. As clearly demonstrated, ODM NEC did not give Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General, a fair hearing as provided for in our Constitution. On behalf of the genuine Kakamega leadership of ODM, we find the decision of the NEC unfair and unconstitutional,” he wrote on his Facebook handle.

Butere MP Tindi Mwale said the State House meeting was developmental in nature and aimed at accelerating service delivery.

He wrote on his Facebook page: “Joined my colleagues, leaders from Kakamega County, in holding candid and constructive discussions concerning development with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.

The meeting focused on matters of national importance, with particular emphasis on ongoing and proposed development projects and programmes in Kakamega, as well as strategies to accelerate transformation and strengthen service delivery in the region.”

Kakamega is set to usher in political bullfights as Kenya prepares for the August 2027 elections.