Siaya Governor James Orengo has claimed that the Linda Mwananchi rally held in Thika on Sunday, June 14, 2026, attracted the largest crowd he has ever witnessed in the town throughout his decades-long political career.

Addressing thousands of supporters at Kivulini Grounds during the opposition-linked political tour, Orengo said the turnout surpassed every rally he had attended in Thika alongside some of Kenya’s most prominent political figures, including veteran opposition icons.

“This is the happiest day of my life. I have come to Thika, and I have seen rallies, but I have never seen a crowd like this here in Thika. I have come here with Matiba, I have come here with Muite, I have come here with Raila, but I have never seen a crowd like this,” Orengo told the cheering crowd.

The outspoken governor used the gathering to project confidence in the growing influence of the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has been conducting political engagements across different parts of the country as leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 General Election.

Orengo fires political salvo at Ruto

During his address, Orengo declared that the movement’s primary objective was to unseat President William Ruto in the next election.

“Kazi yetu ni kupeleka Ruto nyumbani,” he told supporters, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

The governor also appeared to take a swipe at the rival political formation of Linda Ground within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), declaring himself the leader of the Linda Mwananchi movement while dismissing ODM’s Linda Ground political outfit as ineffective.

“Mimi ndio party leader wa Linda Mwananchi; hiyo ingine ni debe tupu,” he said.

James Orengo: This is the happiest day of life, I have come to Thika and i have seen rallies but i have never seen a crowd like this. Kazi yetu ni kupeleka Ruto Nyumbani. Mimi ndo party leader wa Linda Mwananchi hiyo ingine ni debe tupu.#K24Siasa. pic.twitter.com/XhZIZWdaKa

— K24TV (@K24Tv) June 14, 2026

High-profile leaders attend rally

The Thika rally attracted a host of opposition leaders, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo, and other political figures aligned to the Linda Mwananchi movement.

The event began earlier in the day with a church service at AIPCA Thika Cathedral before leaders proceeded to Kivulini Grounds for the main political rally.

One of the notable developments during the event was the appearance of Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, who joined opposition leaders at the rally despite previously being associated with the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration.

Kang’ata’s attendance came shortly after Orengo had publicly appealed to church leaders and wananchi to pray for the governor to join the Linda Mwananchi movement.

Opposition seeks momentum ahead of 2027

The Thika gathering forms part of a broader campaign by opposition leaders seeking to mobilise support across different regions of the country as political temperatures begin to rise ahead of the next general election.

Organisers described the event as one of the largest opposition gatherings held in the Mount Kenya region in recent months, with leaders using the platform to criticise the Kenya Kwanza administration and rally support for political change.

While the actual size of the crowd could not be independently verified, Orengo maintained that the turnout was unlike anything he had witnessed in Thika, even during previous campaigns involving veteran opposition figures such as Kenneth Matiba, Paul Muite, and Raila Odinga.