Edwin Sifuna urged politicians in Kwale to prioritise local leaders and residents’ concerns.
Edwin Sifuna tells visiting politicians to let Kwale leaders guide the Coast tour and prioritise residents’ concerns over personal ambitions.
The Sifuna Kwale rally marked the start of Linda Mwananchi’s first major Coast grassroots tour, with a warning against indiscipline. Party leader Edwin Sifuna urged visiting politicians to respect local leaders and stop competing for prominence at public meetings.
The Nairobi Senator said grassroots representatives should take priority because they understand their communities better than visiting leaders. He also cautioned politicians against allowing their ambitions to undermine respect for colleagues.
Sifuna singled out visitors who occupy front seats ahead of aspirants seeking elective positions in the host area. He asked them to consider how they would feel if outsiders took precedence in their own constituencies.
Sifuna Kwale rally puts local voices first
Sifuna told his Nairobi team to let Kwale politicians determine the tour’s route and programme. Local leaders would identify places to visit and the concerns requiring attention at each stop.
He also instructed accompanying party officials to give local aspirants and elected representatives the first opportunity to address residents. The national leadership, he said, wanted to hear grassroots priorities rather than impose its own agenda.
As Nairobi’s senator, Sifuna acknowledged that Kwale residents and their representatives knew the county better than he did. He therefore urged visiting politicians to make room for local leaders to explain their concerns.
He highlighted mineral exploitation and water shortages among the issues local representatives should bring forward during the tour. However, he warned them against using political gatherings to promote personal demands instead of residents’ needs.
Coast tour follows party rebranding
The Kwale meeting opened Linda Mwananchi’s regional mobilisation campaign following its rebranding and the unveiling of its secretariat on Friday. Sifuna said he had promised Coast leaders that Kwale would host the party’s first public meeting after its launch.
He also thanked residents for attending in large numbers, describing their turnout as a sign of support for the party. Sifuna stressed that the organisation needed both grassroots backing and committed local leaders to survive.
The tour forms part of his efforts to build Linda Mwananchi’s presence beyond Nairobi ahead of the 2027 General Election. Meanwhile, his rising political profile has prompted speculation about a possible presidential run. Opposition leaders have yet to settle on one candidate to challenge President William Ruto.
