NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna has dismissed claims that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is financially backing the opposition in its efforts to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna appeared to mock Ruto after the President was asked to provide evidence supporting his repeated claims that Uhuru is sponsoring opposition politicians.
Sharing a snippet from an interview Ruto gave to the Nation, Sifuna laughed off the President’s response.
“Yule jamaa amebeba akili yote ya Kenya aliulizwa swali mboga sana, atoe evidence Uhuru ndio sponsor ya upinzani akasema hata yeye alisoma kwa gazeti…na anadai sisi ndio mafala,” Sifuna said.
The remarks come amid increasing political activity as parties and opposition leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.
Ruto challenged to provide evidence
Ruto and his allies have repeatedly alleged that Uhuru is supporting opposition figures, including Sifuna and Jubilee presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i, in an effort to mount a challenge against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
During his interview with the Nation, Ruto was asked to provide evidence for the allegations.
Instead, the President referred the interviewer to an earlier Sunday Nation report about an alleged opposition alliance.
“You work for the Nation, right? Can you check the Sunday Nation headline of August 2. What was the headline? It says ‘Uhuru super coalition against Ruto’. You answered yourselves. Despite everything he did I won the elections,” Ruto said.
Ruto appeared to use the newspaper report as support for his assertion that Uhuru was involved in efforts to build an opposition alliance.
However, the report itself does not, on its own, establish that the former President is financially sponsoring opposition politicians.
Uhuru has not publicly responded to the latest allegations by Ruto and his allies.
Sifuna emerges as opposition contender
Sifuna’s response comes as he increasingly presents himself as one of the potential presidential contenders within the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Nairobi senator has been associated with the Linda Mwananchi political movement, which has been building its grassroots presence as part of the broader opposition effort to challenge Ruto.
The opposition camp, however, remains divided over who should ultimately carry its presidential ticket.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and former Justice Minister Martha Karua are among prominent figures who have expressed presidential ambitions or been linked to the 2027 contest.
The field could become even more crowded as other political leaders assess their prospects ahead of party nominations and coalition negotiations.
