NAIROBI, Kenya — The Linda Mwananchi Movement says it raised Sh519,144 in public contributions within a single day after launching a fundraising drive spearheaded by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
In an update shared on Tuesday, the movement said 9,419 Kenyans had contributed to the initiative by the close of the day.
According to the movement, the average contribution was KSh55, with the highest individual donation standing at Sh5,000 while the smallest contribution was Sh1.
“Ever since Senator Edwin Sifuna appeared on the morning show, Kenyans of goodwill have come through. Thank you so much,” the movement said.
Sifuna Urged Public to Contribute
The fundraising drive follows Sifuna’s public appeal for Kenyans to support the movement through its paybill number.
While unveiling the platform, the senator encouraged supporters to make small contributions, saying every donation mattered.
“The Paybill number is 3033049. You will see ‘E. Sifuna’ as the account name. Send me those Sh10 contributions, and I will later announce how much we have raised,” Sifuna said.
Rejects Funding From Wealthy Individuals
Sifuna also criticised COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli over remarks suggesting he was capable of financing the senator’s political ambitions.
The Nairobi senator said he would rather rely on thousands of small contributions from ordinary Kenyans than receive Sh1 billion from a single financier.
“I don’t need your money. Please let ordinary Kenyans continue contributing through our Paybill, just as they have been doing,” Sifuna said.
He added that his generation of political leaders wants to embrace a different model of financing politics by depending on broad public support instead of wealthy benefactors.
We are a different generation of leaders, and we are going to do this politics differently. I would rather be indebted to 10 million Kenyans because they gave me 10 shillings each than to one person who gave me Sh1 billion,” he said.
Sifuna argued that relying on a single financier could create opportunities for corruption and compromise political independence.
