Suba South Member of Parliament (MP) Caroli Omondi has announced that the Linda Mwananchi movement will transform into a fully-fledged political party and front Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during an interview with a local television station on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Omondi said the movement had reached a stage where it must clearly outline its political direction to supporters and Kenyans seeking change.

“I think we have reached a point where we have to clearly give our supporters and the nation more details about what our plans are. There is a lot of support for Linda Mwananchi and a very strong desire for change. We have to provide clarity,” Omondi said.

Linda Mwananchi to become political party

Omondi said the movement had outgrown its roots within ODM and now attracts supporters from different political parties, making it necessary to establish an independent political outfit.

“What is going to happen is that we are going to transform ourselves into a political party because our continued stay in ODM is no longer there. Linda Mwananchi started as a breakaway movement from ODM, but it has now grown beyond that,” he said.

He disclosed that the new party would nominate Sifuna as its presidential candidate before joining other opposition parties to negotiate a united coalition for the 2027 elections.

“We will have our own party as Linda Mwananchi and we will nominate Edwin Sifuna as the presidential candidate of our party. Then James Orengo, Babu Owino and other leaders will negotiate with the opposition to form a grand coalition. We want to move the way we did in 2002 because Kenyans want change,” Omondi stated.

Growing split with ODM

The latest declaration comes just hours after Omondi declared that ODM was politically dead, accusing the party of abandoning the ideals and aspirations that once defined it.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, the Suba South MP said ODM had ceased to represent the interests of ordinary Kenyans and had instead become a vehicle for personal interests.

Omondi, one of the leading figures in the Linda Mwananchi movement, has consistently opposed ODM’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration and previously indicated that he would not seek re-election on an ODM ticket.

His latest remarks are expected to deepen divisions within the opposition as leaders allied to Linda Mwananchi push to establish a new political vehicle while simultaneously pursuing a broad opposition coalition to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 General Election.