Linda Mwananchi fundraiser tops Ksh519,000 as Sifuna pushes citizen-funded political movement ahead of 2027
By Aloys Michael, July 21, 2026The Linda Mwananchi movement has raised Ksh519,144 from 9,419 contributors, according to figures released by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, offering the clearest indication yet of the opposition-linked outfit’s attempt to build a grassroots-funded political movement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Statistics shared by Sifuna on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, show the movement has received donations ranging from Ksh1 to Ksh5,000, with an average contribution of Ksh55, reinforcing its campaign to rely on small individual donations rather than wealthy financiers.
“Tangu Senator @edwinsifuna achape show asubuhi, Kenyans of goodwill have done the thing!! Ahsanteni sana,” he wrote on X.
The fundraising dashboard also shows the movement is accepting contributions through M-Pesa Paybill Number 3033049, registered under “E. Sifuna”, reflecting what the senator has previously explained is a temporary arrangement because Linda Mwananchi is yet to be registered as a political party.
The latest fundraising figures come hours after Sifuna appealed to Kenyans to contribute Ksh10 each to help finance the movement’s activities, insisting that Linda Mwananchi is sustained by ordinary citizens rather than billionaire sponsors.
“The critics should choose one battle. If I’m someone’s project, then I have money; why do they then say that I do not have money? They should choose one, either I have or do not have money. Either I have a sponsor or do not have one,” Sifuna said during an interview on Mulembe FM.
The Nairobi senator explained that because the movement is yet to acquire political party status, the fundraising account is legally registered under his official name.
“We have not registered Linda Mwananchi as a party, so when we are looking for a paybill account, we use our official names. You will see my name on the paybill. The paybill number is 3033049. You will see the name E. Sifuna,” he said.
Citizen-centred financing
Sifuna said every contribution, regardless of size, would be publicly accounted for to promote transparency.
“Send me those Ksh10, and I shall later announce how much we have raised… we show them all the money that has come in so far and how we have utilised it,” he said.
According to the senator, the money finances logistics for political rallies, pays service providers and supports welfare activities associated with the movement.
“We use the money to pay DJ Spider and also pay for other logistics. For example, we used the money to support our brother who passed on in Kisii during our rally. The money came from Linda Mwananchi,” he said.
Sifuna maintained that the movement is not seeking to enrich its leaders but to sustain nationwide civic and political mobilisation.
“We are not looking to enrich ourselves. We do not need too much money. What we need is to cover the logistics of attending some of these meetings,” he said.
He disclosed that the movement’s most expensive rally so far was held in Kisumu at a cost of about Ksh2.6 million, with much of the expenditure going towards security after organisers reportedly received threats.
The publication of the fundraising dashboard marks one of the first public disclosures of the movement’s donor statistics, potentially strengthening Sifuna’s claim that Linda Mwananchi is financed through grassroots contributions rather than wealthy political benefactors.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the campaign is also likely to fuel debate over transparency, political financing and the growing role of small-donor fundraising in Kenya’s electoral politics.