Osotsi: Do as Ol Kalou did, take handouts and support Sifuna
By Faith Lagat, July 26, 2026Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement received backing on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi urged Western Kenya residents to emulate voters in the recent Ol Kalou by-election by accepting government handouts and channeling support to Sifuna’s campaign.
Speaking during the Kimilili leg of the ongoing Western Kenya tour, Osotsi told residents to follow what he described as the Ol Kalou approach.
“Serikali wanaita vijana wa boda boda na wamama siku nzima wanawapea shilingi 200 tu siku nzima. Tunawaambia hivi Waluhya, mfanye vile watu wa Ol Kalou walifanya: wakileta hiyo pesa mnakula, halafu mnawachisha kidogo mnatumia Sifuna kwa paybill,” Osotsi told the crowd.
His remarks came hours after supporters made cash contributions to Sifuna during a stopover in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County.
Cash donations at Kiminini
The show unfolded while Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya addressed a large Linda Mwananchi rally in Kiminini, where residents surged from different directions and handed cash to Sifuna as he stood atop the movement’s brigade vehicle.
The stop in Kiminini came after the team attended a church service in Kitale before proceeding to Bungoma’s Posta Grounds for a mega rally.
Addressing supporters, Sifuna said the Linda Mwananchi paybill had raised Ksh3 million in less than three days, largely through small contributions, including Ksh10 donations from ordinary Kenyans.
“Wanasema hatuna pesa, lakini watu wa Kitale wacha niwaambie, nimeona ma KSh 10 bob zenu kwa paybill yetu. Chini ya siku tatu tumefikisha shilingi milioni tatu. Sisi hatutaenda kutafuta pesa ya ufisadi,” he declared.
Rejects billionaire funding
Sifuna again ruled out relying on wealthy financiers, referring to his earlier rejection of COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli’s offer to raise Ksh1 billion for a possible presidential bid.
“I would rather be indebted to Kenyans because they gave me Ksh10 than Atwoli,” he insisted. “Afadhali kuwa na deni ya mwananchi kuliko mdosi mmoja anakupea milioni kumi.”
He said a government funded by ordinary Kenyans would be accountable to citizens and work to lower the cost of living, including fuel prices.
Ol Kalou lesson
Sifuna also pointed to the recent Ol Kalou by-election, saying money alone cannot determine election outcomes.
Osotsi urged Western Kenya residents to apply the same lesson by accepting government handouts while supporting the Linda Mwananchi movement through its paybill.
The movement continued its mobilisation across Western Kenya on Sunday, with the convoy proceeding to Bungoma after the Kiminini stop as leaders encouraged supporters to make small contributions toward the campaign ahead of the 2027 General Election.