A fresh political storm is brewing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after senior party leaders launched a scathing attack on the Linda Mwananchi faction led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accusing the group of misleading Kenyans and advancing external political interests.
Speaking during a women and boda boda empowerment programme in Kileleshwa Ward, Dagoretti North Constituency, Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed and Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi accused the Sifuna-led faction of working to divide the ODM party.
Junet alleged that the faction was being influenced by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, dismissing its claim of championing the interests of ordinary citizens.
“They call themselves Linda Mwananchi, which citizen? Those ones are protecting Uhuru Kenyatta and his wealth. There is no such thing as Mwananchi there,” Junet said.
The leaders also turned their criticism towards Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua, challenging him to test his political influence in Nairobi ahead of the next elections.
“You, Rigathi Gachagua, are coming here to Nairobi to threaten us. This Nairobi belongs to ODM, and let the election come so we can show you who this Nairobi really belongs to,” Junet added.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi defended the ongoing empowerment programmes, dismissing criticism over the distribution of millions of shillings through community initiatives.
“Our people have not received that money for a long time. Now that they have received this money, people have started getting angry. We will continue dishing out money,” Wandayi said.
National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairperson Sam Atandi also defended the programmes, saying government resources should benefit communities.
“I am now the budget chairman. How can I fail to dish out money at a meeting? Won’t I be a fake chairman?” Atandi posed.
Wandayi maintained that the empowerment initiatives would continue, noting that the Dagoretti North event had raised millions of shillings, including contributions from President William Ruto.
Meanwhile, leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration in Bungoma County sustained their criticism of the opposition while rallying Western Kenya voters to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027.
The latest exchanges underscore growing political tensions within ODM and the broader realignments taking shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
