Sifuna Signals 2027 Presidential Bid, Says Intimidation Won’t Stop Him

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has indicated that he may consider running for president in 2027, framing the potential bid as a response to public demand rather than personal ambition.

In a recent radio interview, Sifuna, who serves as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urged young Kenyans to register and vote in the upcoming elections, emphasising that low voter turnout has long hindered opposition efforts. His comments come amid ongoing internal disputes within ODM, where efforts to remove him from his post have been blocked by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

Sifuna also unveiled the “Mimi Ndio Sifuna” initiative, which he described as a collective movement rather than a personality-driven campaign. He stressed that uniting the opposition will be crucial to challenging President William Ruto in 2027He outlined his vision for a government focused on upholding freedom and the rule of law, rather than prioritising infrastructure projects. 

“Please don’t ask me how many kilometres of road I am going to do,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna also accused state agencies of interfering with opposition activities, alleging that a local airline leaked his team's travel plans to the Interior Ministry, which led to disruptions at a rally in Kakamega. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has denied these claims, suggesting Sifuna may have orchestrated the incidents himself. In response, Sifuna called for stronger investigative powers for the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

Despite these challenges, Sifuna expressed confidence that intimidation would not deter the movement. He warned that it would take more than force to silence the opposition’s voice. The senator also criticised Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's agreement to transfer certain county functions to the national government, describing the arrangement as inconsistent with Kenya's constitutional principles of devolution.