Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has warned Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna against allowing himself to be dragged into Western Kenya politics, urging him to resist being branded a Luhya kingpin and instead maintain his national political identity.

Speaking during an interview on the Upfront Podcast aired on Sunday, July 26, 2027, the outspoken Saboti lawmaker argued that Sifuna is a national figure who enjoys support from across the country. However, he claimed that in the past few days, there have been attempts to box him into the role of a Luhya regional leader.

Amisi went on to argue that there is no position known as a ‘Mulembe kingpin’ on the presidential ballot. He took a swipe at Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who has long harboured presidential ambitions, saying that focusing on Mulembe politics had prevented him from realising those ambitions because such a political position does not exist nationally.

“Sifuna should try and avoid being boxed or being called a Luhya kingpin. There is nothing on the ballot called a Luhya kingpin. He is a national figure. The moment he begins being called a Luhya kingpin, he loses his national identity,” Amisi said.

Amisi warns Sifuna

The legislator further advised the Linda Mwananchi team leader that whenever he visits Bungoma and Trans Nzoia – his ancestral home – as he did over the weekend, he should do so simply as a national leader seeking support rather than allowing himself to be crowned or adorned with traditional regalia that portrays him as a regional leader.

According to Amisi, such symbolic acts could erode the nationwide support that Sifuna has been enjoying in recent months. He argued that Sifuna’s kinsmen already know his ethnic background and do not need constant reminders, adding that they would still support him regardless.

Amisi also cited Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, saying that when the governor first rose to prominence, he had cautioned him against concentrating his politics in Western Kenya. However, he said Natembeya ignored the advice, limiting the expansion of his political influence beyond the region.

Sifuna defends his homecoming

The remarks come just days after Sifuna defended his homecoming tour, during which he addressed large crowds in Trans Nzoia and parts of Bungoma County.

Sifuna maintained that, despite being a national leader and the Nairobi senator, Bungoma County remains his home. He argued that it was only natural for him to return to his political backyard to seek blessings and support before embarking on a nationwide campaign for votes.