NAIROBI, Kenya- Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has praised Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s rapid political ascent, arguing that Kenyans should celebrate rather than resent the young politician’s growing national influence.
In remarks shared on Monday, the lawyer said Sifuna’s emergence represents a positive development in Kenya’s political landscape, describing him as a leader who has risen without displacing established figures.
“Kenyans shouldn’t begrudge Sen Sifuna for his meteoric political rise. We should instead celebrate it. It’s always a good thing when a young man gets a break in politics or any career for that matter and thrust himself into the national limelight,” Ahmednasir said.
The lawyer argued that Sifuna had filled a leadership vacuum in Western Kenya that has existed since the death of former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa more than two decades ago.
“Remember, Sifuna hasn’t elbowed anyone. He simply claimed a space that was empty since Hon. Kijana Wamalwa died two decades ago. For too long, Western was bereft of a political heavyweight that sat at the national table as of right,” he stated.
He further suggested that Sifuna’s popularity extends beyond his Luhya community, saying the senator has built a broader national appeal.
“Sifuna seems to be the new kid on the block. And to be fair to the young man, his appeal goes beyond Luhya land,” he added.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Sifuna increasingly featuring prominently in opposition rallies and national political debates.
Political analysts have recently argued that his growing visibility, alongside leaders such as Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, has revived conversations about Western Kenya’s influence in national politics following years of fragmented leadership.
Sifuna, the former ODM Secretary-General and Nairobi Senator, has in recent months become one of the opposition’s most vocal critics of President William Ruto’s administration, attracting large crowds at public rallies across different regions of the country.
His remarks come barely a day after Sifuna drew tens of thousands of supporters during the Linda Mwananchi movement’s rallies in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, where Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya publicly endorsed the Nairobi senator as the Mulembe region’s preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
Natembeya urged Western Kenya leaders to unite behind Sifuna, saying he would spearhead campaigns across the region’s 38 constituencies while Sifuna focused on building national support.
The endorsement capped a weekend that saw Sifuna receive a hero’s welcome in his home region, further cementing his growing influence beyond Nairobi and within the national opposition.
