‘It Has Not Been Easy’ – Sifuna Recounts Challenges Linda Mwananchi Faced During Political Meetings

Sign InNational‘It Has Not Been Easy’ – Sifuna Recounts Challenges Linda Mwananchi Faced During Political MeetingsBy John Mutiso · October 30, 2026 · 3 min readSponsored AdNairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has recounted the challenges faced by the Linda Mwananchi movement in organising political meetings, alleging that its supporters encountered disruptions and intimidation despite constitutional protections for political association and multiparty democracy.

Speaking during the launch of the movement’s headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi, on Friday, October 30, 2026, Sifuna said the journey had been difficult and questioned why the group faced obstacles while exercising its right to organise and promote its political agenda.

“This journey has been difficult, and it was not necessary for it to be a difficult journey because we live in a democratic country,” Sifuna said.

He argued that Kenya’s Constitution guarantees citizens the freedom to associate with people and political groups whose ideas and policies they support.

“The Constitution of Kenya gives us the right to form parties. We are a multiparty democracy,” he said, questioning why the movement encountered what he described as restrictions when it began organising meetings.

Sifuna cited the movement’s first meeting in Busia, alleging that groups of hired goons were deployed to prevent the gathering from proceeding.

“When we started with that Busia meeting, our first meeting, you know we had been confronted by gangs of goons who were supposed to stop us from holding the meeting,” he said.

He maintained that members of the public stood with the movement and helped it proceed with its activities.

The senator also cited incidents in Kitengela and Homa Bay, alleging that people associated with the movement had lost their lives in circumstances he described as unnecessary.

He recalled an incident in Kitengela in which he said a young man was shot after the meeting had ended.

“We have lost many lives, very unnecessary loss of life,” Sifuna said.

His remarks placed the movement’s political organising efforts within a wider debate about freedom of assembly, political competition and the protection of citizens participating in public meetings. The allegations require independent verification, including details of the incidents and any findings by investigators.

Sifuna also contrasted the movement’s experiences in some areas with its engagements in regions associated with opposition leaders Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka.

He praised Gachagua for allowing the movement to hold a meeting in Thika, describing the former Deputy President as a democrat.

“Everybody knows that on Mount Kenya, he is the one who calls the shots. But when we went to hold a meeting in Thika, because he is a democrat, he did not beat us. He allowed us to hold our meeting and we left,” Sifuna said.

He thanked Kalonzo for allowing the movement to hold meetings in Kitui, Machakos and other areas where the Wiper leader enjoys political support.

Sifuna said the movement had not faced attempts to force it out of those areas, contrasting that experience with what he described as the attitude of leaders in the broad-based government.

Sifuna thanked Kenyans, particularly young people, for attending the movement’s meetings and helping members reach venues safely.

“Without you, we would not have reached here today,” he said, expressing gratitude to supporters who had continued to attend gatherings despite the challenges.

He also thanked musicians and other supporters who had backed the movement.

The headquarters launch marks another step in Linda Mwananchi’s efforts to establish a political base in Nairobi. Sifuna’s account placed constitutional freedoms, political tolerance and the safety of supporters at the centre of the movement’s message as political alliances take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.