Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli has expressed doubts about Edwin Sifuna's readiness to contest the 2027 presidential election. Atwoli believes Sifuna lacks the necessary preparation for such an undertaking. He made these remarks during a Citizen TV interview on Sunday, September 20. Atwoli's comments come as Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement prepares to unveil his political vehicle within two weeks.
Atwoli compared Sifuna's political standing to that of heavyweights like Raila Odinga, Matiba, and Jaramogi, who still struggled to win the presidency. He recalled campaigning extensively for Raila Odinga under the Azimio coalition, describing the effort as gruelling and resource-intensive. Atwoli noted that even candidates with far greater networks and mass support had fallen short in the past.
Atwoli invoked the memory of Kenya's most formidable opposition figures to make his point. He mentioned the late former prime minister Raila Odinga, the late Kenneth Matiba, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Masinde Muliro, who challenged the late former president Daniel Arap Moi in 1992 despite widespread expectations that Moi's hold on power was weakening. All three failed to win the presidency.
According to Atwoli, Sifuna is not even a quarter of the calibre of those who have tried to aspire to the presidency. However, he did not entirely close the door on Sifuna's future prospects, describing him as a future leader he could fully support. Atwoli set out specific conditions, insisting Sifuna must first build a nationwide team beyond his close allies.
Atwoli called on the broader opposition to agree on a single candidate before the next election cycle. He suggested Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as one option while questioning whether he had the physical stamina required for a modern campaign. Atwoli asked if Musyoka could keep up with the demands of a rigorous campaign trail.
The comments arrive at a sensitive moment for the Linda Mwananchi movement, which Sifuna leads. The movement had launched a fundraising paybill through which Kenyans have been contributing to the campaign effort. This comes after Atwoli claimed that Sifuna had no funds to finance the campaign.
The Linda Mwananchi movement is expected to unveil Sifuna's political vehicle within the next two weeks amid reports of tensions within the movement's top leadership ahead of that announcement. Atwoli's remarks have added to the conversation about Sifuna's presidential ambitions and the challenges he may face in the 2027 election.
Key points
- Atwoli doubts Sifuna's readiness for a presidential campaign
- Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement to unveil his political vehicle within two weeks
- Atwoli suggests opposition agree on a single candidate before 2027 election
