By Anderson Ojwang
The stars could be aligning for the Nairobi senator, Edwin Sifuna, but he could also be walking directly and right into the political shoes of cage and hostage of his mentor and former prime minister, the late Raila Odinga.
Sifuna finds himself inheriting and subsequently wearing the obnoxious, discomforting and ugly Raila’s shoes of political hostage that undermined his successive presidential bids.
The brand Raila controlled the country’s politics and was mostly exploited by his close allies for their own selfish gains, while the former prime minister was left to carry his own cross after losing at the presidential ballot.
Sifuna is currently building his own political brand, which is gaining traction and could be following Raila’s political hostage path to the abyss.
Currently, Sifuna is the new kid on the block and the scramble for identity with him has peaked, with the political class edging out one another.
Sifuna consequently finds himself in Raila’s shoes of political cage, siege and “hostage” from allies who only want to ride on his influence to win the 2026 General Election and think and care least of his political ambition and future.
For most of the allies, it is the wave that they want to ride on to win their respective seats and do not have the least care over Sifuna’s presidential ambition and success. The end shall justify the means, as it was for Raila.
Just like Raila, it was the brand that mattered, and this explains why most of his Governor allies got more votes than him and disappeared after winning, only to reappear when the elections were around the corner.
The Battle in Luhya Land
Currently, Sifuna has emerged as the undisputed leader of the Luhya community, and he could be holding the key to the majority of the elective posts in the 2027 General Election.
This explains why the political class has been on the offensive to shield and fence off the senator from other political competitors from the region.
Those in the hunt for Sifuna’s support include Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleo Malala, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, MPs Majimbo Kalasinga and Jack Wamboka, among others.
Amisi wanted Sifuna to join and run as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election, but that did not materialise.
People’s Renaissance Movement leader Caleb Amisi has urged opposition parties to back Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as their joint presidential candidate in the next election.
He said Sifuna should be the opposition’s flagbearer if it intends to mount a united challenge against President William Ruto.
Amisi spoke in Vihiga on Wednesday while meeting aspirants seeking to contest various positions on the PRM ticket.
The Vehicle and Mole Concept
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has levelled a sharp public accusation against Natembeya, alleging that the Governor was a covert operative working on behalf of President Ruto’s administration to destroy the Linda Mwananchi movement from within.
The Saboti MP has long maintained that he was the original architect of the Linda Mwananchi initiative, which emerged as a third-force political movement distinct from both the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration and the traditional opposition.
The movement identified Nairobi Senator Sifuna as its public face and has been fronting him as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
Amisi has repeatedly insisted that figures such as Natembeya and Bumula MP Jack Wamboka arrived late and have since moved to dilute the movement’s founding agenda.
His latest statement goes a step further, asserting that Natembeya’s presence within Linda Mwananchi was deliberately intended to scatter the coalition for Ruto’s benefit.
Natembeya denied the claims, rejected the allegations, reaffirming his backing for Sifuna’s presidential bid. The Governor had earlier declared Sifuna the opposition’s preferred joint candidate for 2027.
Natembeya-Babu Owino War in Trans Nzoia
The arrival of Natembeya has created tension in the outfit, and his attempt to snatch the microphone from Embakasi East MP Babu Owino during the Trans Nzoia Linda Mwananchi rally were indicative of the falling out.
Natembeya finally broke his silence on his microphone clash with Babu Owino during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kitale, saying he was following the programme and protocol he understood had been agreed for the event.
Speaking on a local radio station on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Natembeya said the disagreement started after he was asked to serve as master of ceremonies during the Kitale meeting, a role he initially declined.
Natembeya said the confrontation happened after he had invited the three leaders and handed the microphone to Wamboka.
According to his account, Babu Owino then moved to take the microphone, prompting Natembeya to tell him to follow the agreed order.
“Nikamwambia, ‘Bana we relax, fuata namba, maana mimi nilikuwa najua kama ni protocol,” Natembeya said.
He said his understanding was that the rally had a defined speaking order and that leaders were expected to follow it.
“Huwezi kuja Nairobi kuja ku dictate Kitale,” he said.
Sifuna Dilemma
For Sifuna, to fit into Raila’s dubious shoes is the nightmare he must confront or wait to witness his star crumble. For Raila, he was an indelible brand and could easily rebrand. For Sifuna, he is miles away from Raila’s blind, and any misstep would be the end of the road.
