SIFUNA LANDS NEW PARTY FOR 2027 RACE

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has secured a political vehicle for his 2027 presidential ambitions, unveiling The Equitable Party (TEP) as he seeks to turn the Linda Mwananchi Movement into a formidable national political force.

Sifuna was unveiled as TEP leader and its preferred presidential candidate during a high-profile event in Nairobi on Sunday, October 4, attended by a cross-section of opposition figures associated with the Linda Mwananchi camp.

The party, however, is not a new political outfit. Records from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties show that TEP was registered on March 25, 2022. It uses green and yellow colours, the scales-of-justice symbol and the slogan “Tusawazishe”, meaning “Let us equalise”.

Its stated mission centres on social and economic justice, equitable distribution of national resources and greater participation by citizens and communities in development.

TEP's leadership has now been restructured to accommodate Sifuna and members of his political camp. Party leader Gilbert Marava said the existing officials would remain involved while making room for the senator and his allies.

“On our end, we have decided to restructure,” Marava said, adding that those who registered the party would remain while “we will bring in our brothers.”

The takeover follows months of uncertainty over the political vehicle Sifuna would use after his break with the Orange Democratic Movement, where he had served as Secretary-General.

His allies had initially sought to establish the Linda Mwananchi Movement as a political party but encountered difficulties with the Registrar of Political Parties. The dispute eventually reached the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which cleared the way for the movement to reserve its name.

Sifuna has since indicated that TEP could be rebranded as the Linda Mwananchi Movement, allowing the party to adopt the identity already associated with his political mobilisation. If the rebranding process encounters further obstacles, TEP is expected to remain the vehicle for his campaign.

The launch brought together prominent opposition figures including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, among others.

Several speakers endorsed Sifuna's presidential ambitions while simultaneously challenging him to build a movement that reaches beyond his political base.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka urged the new outfit to adopt a genuinely national character, insisting that Sifuna's candidature should be bigger than the individual.

“My brother Edwin Sifuna, I am proud of you because you are Kenyan, and your candidature today is not about you but about Kenyans,” Wamboka said.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale offered Sifuna both an endorsement and a warning, telling him that securing a political vehicle was only the beginning.

“Edwin Sifuna, do not get excited. The heartbeat has now started,” Khalwale said.

He urged the senator to work with experienced opposition figures, including James Orengo, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa, arguing that Sifuna would need their political experience and support.

“You will need to humble yourself and stand on the shoulders of Kalonzo Musyoka... Martha Karua... and your elder brother, Eugene Wamalwa,” Khalwale said.

Khalwale also disclosed that some of the parties previously mentioned as possible vehicles for Sifuna had been deliberately floated as “decoys” to conceal the actual plan.

“When we saw that you were planning to frustrate Edwin Sifuna on the issue of parties, we decided to give it to you,” Khalwale said, explaining that several political vehicles had been presented publicly while TEP remained out of the spotlight.

The strategy, he said, was intended to ensure Sifuna eventually had an established party through which to pursue his presidential ambition.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also welcomed Sifuna's new political vehicle, describing the development as a significant step in shaping the opposition's 2027 strategy.

Speaking during a church service in the United States, where he is currently touring, Gachagua congratulated Sifuna and said the unveiling had made the opposition's political picture clearer.

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader argued that the opposition would have a stronger chance of defeating President William Ruto if its various political formations eventually worked together.

Gachagua said the emergence of TEP, alongside DCP, Wiper and other opposition parties, could help create a united front with “no escape route” for Ruto in the 2027 presidential contest.

He also directly encouraged Sifuna to begin building the party across the country, including recruiting candidates for elective positions.

Congratulating the Nairobi senator, Gachagua described the launch as the beginning of Sifuna's journey towards national leadership.

“To those who thought they could stop an idea whose time had come, we are sorry. Your time is up!” Gachagua said.

The former deputy president also left the door open for closer cooperation between the two camps, saying opposition leaders could combine their experience with the energy of younger politicians.

In a pointed reference to a possible future alliance, Gachagua said it would be “easier to support Sifuna than Ruto”, signalling that Sifuna's emergence could become part of the wider negotiations over the opposition's eventual presidential ticket.

Gachagua's position adds another layer to the opposition calculations, given that he is himself heading a political party and remains one of the figures seeking influence over the 2027 contest.

Sifuna, meanwhile, has kept the full TEP manifesto under wraps.

The senator said he did not want to reveal too much of his campaign agenda before the election, accusing President William Ruto of copying political ideas.

“Let me not give away too much of our manifesto because Kasongo has become a copycat,” Sifuna said.

He nonetheless pointed to issues such as the cost of living, employment, taxation, public services and the cost of healthcare and education as areas his political movement intends to address.

Sifuna also invoked the legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, linking his new political journey to the opposition movement Raila championed.

“We are here because of him... he may not get there with us, but we will surely reach the promised land,” Sifuna said.

The emergence of TEP now gives Sifuna a formal party structure, but it also adds another layer to the already complicated negotiations over a united opposition presidential candidate.

With several opposition principals controlling or associated with their own political vehicles, the challenge will be balancing Sifuna's growing political profile with the broader push for a single candidate capable of taking on President William Ruto in 2027.

The latest Politrack survey puts Sifuna ahead of other opposition figures at 19.6%, while Ruto leads overall with 45.1%. The figures give Sifuna momentum, but his key challenge will be building a broad coalition strong enough to seriously challenge Ruto in 2027.