I don’t need your money: Sifuna fires back at Atwoli over campaign funding remarks
By David Nthua, July 21, 2026Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has rejected an offer by Francis Atwoli to help raise Ksh1B for his presidential campaign.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Sifuna said his political activities would be financed by ordinary Kenyans.
He argued that the Ol Kalou by-election had demonstrated that money alone cannot secure an electoral victory.
Sifuna turns to public contributions
“Wanasema eti hatuna pesa. Watu wa Ol Kalou wameonyesha ya kwamba hiyo pesa yenu haiwezi wasaidia. Pesa is not the answer,” Sifuna said.
“Sisi tutaembea vile huwa tunatembea kawaida, bora mafuta ya gari iko. Tuko na Paybill number hapo kwa website yetu yenye Wakenya wanaweka.”
The senator then directly addressed the Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General.
“Sai anasema yeye ndiye ako na one billion ati anaweza pea Sifuna. Mimi sitaki pesa yako, mzee. I do not need that money. Let Kenyans continue giving me money,” he said.
“I would rather be indebted to Kenyans because they gave me Ksh10 than Atwoli.”
Sifuna also questioned the source of the money and called for reduced dependence on wealthy political financiers.
“Naomba Wakenya, we need to free our politics from this dirty money. Kwanza, wewe one billion umetoa wapi? Wafanyakazi wanalia huku na wewe unapeana one billion,” he said.
Sifuna further challenged Atwoli’s earlier declaration that he held the “password” to national leadership.
“Mzee Atwoli ndiye alianza akisema eti ako na password ya uongozi. Mzee alisema eti yeye ndiye ako na password ya uongozi ya Kenya,” he said.
“Then nikauliza, kwanini hakupea Wetang’ula, Mudavadi and Raila Odinga? Sai tungekuwa Ikulu.”
Atwoli’s Ksh1 billion offer
Atwoli made the remarks during a fundraiser at Mwichina Church of God in Lurambi Constituency on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
He argued that a serious presidential campaign required money, networks and the support of established Western Kenya leaders.
“Na wewe ukitaka kuwa president katika Kenya hii, mimi ndiye naweza kukusaidia kuraise hata one billion kwa dakika moja ili uwe president,” Atwoli told Sifuna.
“Sisi ndio tuna marafiki, na sisi ndio tunaweza kukusaidia uwe rais.”
Atwoli said he could help mobilise Ksh1 billion. He did not say the entire amount would come from his personal finances or identify the expected contributors.
Sifuna’s response now opens a direct political confrontation over who should finance his growing national campaign: wealthy power brokers or ordinary voters.