KAKAMEGA, Kenya — The Luhya Elders Forum has endorsed Linda Mwananchi movement leader and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its preferred opposition presidential candidate, urging him to unite with other opposition leaders and front a single challenger against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
The endorsement was announced during a meeting in Kakamega where the elders also installed veteran politician and former ambassador Burudi Nabwera as the forum’s new chairman following the death of former chairman Patrick Wangamati in July.
Led by deputy chairman Noah Wekesa, the elders said Sifuna had demonstrated national appeal and leadership qualities that had earned him support well beyond the Western Kenya region.
“Our son Edwin Sifuna has been accepted by a lot of Kenyans, and since he is our son, we naturally want to state very clearly that we support his efforts of wanting to join others in the political arena,” Wekesa said.
The elders noted that Sifuna had attracted significant public support across several counties before returning to his home region.
“This young man has been close to 17 counties before he came here, and we have seen mammoth, huge crowds of young people, old people, poor people supporting Sifuna. So we as elders, we are right behind him,” Wekesa added.
While expressing confidence in Sifuna’s leadership, the forum acknowledged that he is not the only opposition figure seeking to challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration and urged him to engage other leaders in coalition-building.
“We are quite aware that he is not alone in the opposition. Join these people, talk to them, agree with them on the way forward,” Wekesa said.
The elders said they would have formally blessed Sifuna had he attended the meeting.
“If he was here, we would put our hands on his head and say, son, go ahead and join others in the effort of trying to produce new leadership in Kenya,” Wekesa said.
The forum further expressed confidence that other opposition leaders would eventually rally behind Sifuna.
“He has emerged naturally, and we believe even the others will support him to be the presidential candidate,” Wekesa said.
The endorsement comes amid heightened political activity as parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with opposition figures exploring possible coalition arrangements to field a united presidential candidate.
