Sifuna Claims Ksh2 Billion Bribe Attempt as Linda Mwananchi Platforms Face Blockage

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused the government of deliberately obstructing efforts by a faction within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to launch digital platforms supporting their Linda Mwananchi campaign.

Speaking at the People’s Dialogue Festival in Uhuru Park on Friday, Sifuna said attempts to establish a campaign website and a mobile money paybill number had been repeatedly frustrated, despite increasing public support. He alleged that the faction’s growing popularity had prompted interference from political rivals and government actors, including misinformation suggesting he had sought financial inducements to abandon the initiative. 

Sifuna added that his team had received intelligence indicating an attempt to bribe him with up to Ksh2 billion to derail the campaign. “We want to assure you that because this movement is bigger than us, we will not give in to any of their attempts,” he told supporters, affirming that the faction would find a way to overcome the obstacles.

Supporters of the Linda Mwananchi faction have been seeking more organised methods to contribute to and coordinate the movement’s activities. Sifuna emphasised that technical difficulties were not the cause of the paybill and website delays, but deliberate obstruction, and he pledged that a solution would be implemented soon to maintain momentum.

The faction has also moved to distance itself from efforts to register a political party under the Linda Mwananchi name. Earlier this week, Sifuna and other leaders, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, formally opposed an application submitted to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. 

They argued that the individual behind the registration bid was not affiliated with their movement and warned that approval could mislead the public and confuse supporters. Reports indicated that the registration process was already at an advanced stage.