Makau Mutua: Gachagua and Sifuna are birds of a feather
By Cynthia Lodite, May 14, 2026Senior Constitutional Advisor to the President, Professor Makau Mutua, has launched a debate comparing Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna just moments after the TIFA research polls.
Taking to his official X account on Thursday, May 14, 2026, Makau stirred fresh political debate by drawing a direct parallel between Gachagua and Edwin Sifuna, describing them as having “no difference.”
“What’s the difference between Gachagua and Sifuna? NONE. Birds of a feather,” Mutua said.
The remark comes on the same day a new TIFA Research poll released May 14, 2026 placed the Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna at 10% in national presidential preferences just ahead of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at 9%.
According to the TIFA survey conducted between May 2 and May 11, 2026, President William Ruto leads with 24% support as the most preferred presidential candidate.
The President is followed by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at 19%, former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i at 14%, Edwin Sifuna at 10%, and Rigathi Gachagua at 9%.
Meanwhile, the poll, which interviewed over 2,000 respondents across the country, underscores the fluidity of Kenya’s opposition landscape.
TIFA poll results on Sifuna
According to the survey 28 per cent of respondents who support opposition candidates preferred a ticket pairing of Kalonzo Musyoka and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
“Among Opposition candidate supporters, the combination of Kalonzo and Matiangi attracts slightly more support than that of Kalonzo and Sifuna. How much influence public opinion will have in this selection process remains to be seen,” the report indicated.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s ticket with Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna as a presidential candidate and his running mate, respectively, could feature in the surprise line-up.
Edwin Sifuna has been leading the Linda Mwananchi faction, which has seen him draw large crowds across the country, especially after his attempted ouster from the secretary general seat. He has been taking the country by storm. and has already shown interest in working with the United Opposition ahead of 2027.
He has stated that there is a common understanding among Kenyans that for William Ruto to be defeated, there must be overwhelming repudiation from the electorate, and to achieve this, the opposition must approach it as a unit.
He further stated that he does not want to be part of any vote-splitting mechanism. He encouraged the united opposition to continue with their endeavours, noting that their paths would soon converge.