Linda Mwananchi walking into political redline with Nairobi rally, will they fit into Raila’s shoes?
By Anderson Ojwang
Today, Sunday, marks a political redline for Linda Mwananchi in its pursuit for a new dispensation. That is why there was an alleged attempt by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to hold a parallel rally, which was later rescinded.
But the ODM Nairobi leadership has dismissed claims that the party was planning to hold a separate rally in Nairobi alongside the Linda Mwananchi Movement on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Speaking to the media on Friday, September 11, 2026, ODM Nairobi Chairman George Aladwa dismissed the claims, saying that the Oburu Oginga Odinga-led party has no such plans. He also welcomed the Edwin Sifuna team to the capital and held their rally.
“I wish to make our position as ODM Nairobi very clear. Linda Mwananchi is free to hold its rally and conduct its political activities in Nairobi.
“As ODM Nairobi, we have no business interfering with their rally, and we will not interfere with their activities. They have a right to speak to Nairobi residents, just as ODM has the right to engage the people and advance our political agenda,” Aladwa said.
The ODM county chairman sought to distance his party from the planned event, saying the party was focused on strengthening its structures and expanding its grassroots support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Our focus as ODM Nairobi is elsewhere. We are currently engaged in an extensive programme to market and strengthen the party across Nairobi. We are rebuilding our grassroots structures, mobilising our supporters and preparing the party for the 2027 General Election,” Aladwa said.
Former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo, who is also a principal member of the Linda Mwananchi Movement, while addressing the issue, said, “We have received credible reports of goons being mobilised and organised to interrupt our meetings. We maintain that Kenya is a free and democratic country where nobody should be cowed out of expressing their political preferences. So, we will proceed with our rally, and we hope that those who have planned to interfere will rethink their decision.”
Test for Sifuna and Babu
For Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, the Nairobi rally is a political redline that will finally determine their future going forward.
It is a test that will determine whether they have come of age to fit into the shoes of their mentor and former Prime Minister, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, and can now comfortably control the city politics or not.
Equally, it will mark the final straw in the separation of two decades of family unity in the Kenya opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Babu wrote, “Mobilisation nimefanya hii Nairobi nzima. Matatu zote za Sugoi zimejaa, wanakuja Kanairo. Jacaranda itajaa kabisa. Kesho mfike kiwanja mapema (The kind of mobilization we have taken in Nairobi. Even Matatu from Sugoi will come to Nairobi. Jacaranda ground will be filled to the brim,”
Sifuna wrote, “Laps kiasi huku Landi mawe, Jogoo Road, Donny Roundabout, Umoja, Jacaranda…… Are you ready for tomorrow?”
The Jacaranda rally holds the key to Sifuna and Babu in their new political quest, and for Linda Mwananchi, it will mark its grand entry to City politics, the seat of power.
The shoes
Raila, after his release from prison, started his politics in Langata, where he was elected the MP in the 1992 General Election and remained the General of the city politics.
Raila controlled and swayed Nairobi politics, controlling the county government through either the executive or the county assembly.
Among his Nairobi mentees were Sifuna and Babu, who have become significant players in the city politics and now nationally.
Babu has already declared his bid for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, where he is the candidate to beat and one of the top luminaries of the opposition politics.
Sifuna will not be defending his senatorial seat as he eyes the presidency in a contest with President William Ruto.
Sifuna is currently riding high, and the recent opinion poll placed him second after Ruto, with 15 per cent against Ruto at 24 per cent, by TIFA survey.
So, for Babu and Sifuna, today’s rally is make or unmake. It will be a day of declaration of purpose and intent.
The big question that they will need to answer is if they have come of age to fit into Raila’s Nairobi and national shoes and are ready to carry on with his political ideology.
Similarly, will they get the blessings of Nairobians in the new political quests?
Divorce
The rally will finally bring to an end the family tie that bound them together in the ODM and probably will reveal the new political home for the supporters ahead of the next year’s General Elections.
The duo shall have come of age to walk away from the father’s home, ODM, to build their own stead, a new political party.
In Nairobi, they may unveil the new home or give a glimpse of what the new home may look like.
Raila first Anniversary
This will be the first major political function and rally that Babu and Sifuna will be holding in Nairobi after Raila’s death and the separation.
Already, ODM has released its programme to celebrate Raila’s first anniversary, which has already drawn criticism from Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga, who called the planners “Cups and Tents” in ODM.
