Broad-based allies attack Uhuru over alleged Sifuna funding to fracture Western vote

Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Mwananchi brigade.[File, Standard]

The political battle for control of Western Kenya intensified with President William Ruto’s allies turning their guns on Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and vowing to stop his growing influence in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Kakamega town during an empowerment forum for tuk-tuk operators at the Kakamega Approved Grounds, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, and several MPs aimed Sifuna, accusing him and the opposition of lacking a clear agenda beyond challenging the President.

“I want to advise my friends, including Sifuna and the Opposition, that they have taken the wrong direction. They are being used by their sponsor, Uhuru Kenyatta, who, when he was in power, never developed this region,” said Senator Cheruiyot.

The Kericho Senator alleged that Sifuna was being prepared to divide Western Kenya at a time when the region should be focusing on development and securing its political interests.

“These people cannot support a Luhya person. I know them better than those claiming that they will give them power. Sifuna is being used to divide the region at the expense of the region, but we want to tell them that they will not succeed because Kenyans are clever,” he said.

Cheruiyot argued that Ruto was being fought because of his decision to pursue what he described as equitable distribution of resources and development across the country, including Western Kenya.

The senator also warned Western voters against political deals allegedly being advanced by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his allies in the Mt Kenya region.

“Give us your votes for the last time, then we shall reciprocate your energy by giving you the presidency after William Ruto,” he told the crowd.

The senator said the expansion of the Nairobi-Malaba road and the planned extension of the Standard Gauge Railway would improve transport, open up markets, and stimulate economic activity across the region.

The senator also criticized Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga over his opposition to the government’s decision to write off billions of shillings in historical debts owed by State-owned sugar factories in Western Kenya.

“No leader should oppose the economic liberation of our sugarcane farmers simply because the factories are not located in their backyard,” he said.

Kibet, who has emerged as one of Ruto’s key political mobilisers in Western Kenya, intensified the attack on Sifuna, alleging that the senator’s political rallies were being funded by Uhuru.

“These people are being used and funded by Uhuru, who is their sponsor, and that is why they have nothing to offer. I want to urge people of the Western region to ignore them and support those doing development like William Ruto,” said Kibet.

Kibet likened Sifuna to “a bull being fattened for slaughter”, alleging that his growing political activities in Western Kenya were part of a broader strategy to undermine Ruto’s support base and divide the Luhya community.

Barasa joined the offensive, dismissing the Linda Mwananchi movement and describing it as a political outfit without a clear agenda for the people.

“Those people are not in our league; they cannot defeat us, let alone William Ruto,” Barasa declared.

Barasa further attributed his support for Ruto to development projects undertaken by the national government, saying the region had benefited from investments in infrastructure and health.

Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe said the political and regional battle facing President Ruto was largely driven by disagreements over the distribution of natural resources and development.

“President Ruto is being fought because he has decided to ensure equitable distribution of development and resources, and those from certain regions that are entitled to development being taken to one region are fighting back, not for other regions to develop,” said Mugabe.

Lurambi MP Titus Khamala also urged Western Kenya residents to rally behind leaders whom he said were delivering development across the country.

“We are seeing development going on, and I want to urge our people to be united and support the side that does development, and that side is being led by President Ruto,” said Khamala.

Malava MP David Ndakwa, however, struck a more conciliatory tone, calling for political tolerance and saying Kenyans should be allowed to sell their political agendas without intimidation.

Sifuna’s growing grassroots mobilisation through the Linda Mwananchi movement has unsettled Ruto’s allies, who are now stepping up rallies, empowerment programmes and development messaging in an effort to retain the region’s support ahead of the 2027 polls.