Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has endorsed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, saying he has what it takes to lead the country.

While speaking during the burial of the uncle of Rural Urban Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA) boss Brian Lishenga on Saturday, March 14, 2026, Osotsi stated that the Linda Mwananchi faction has many capable leaders, with Sifuna being among them.

“Kwa timu yetu ya linda mwananchi tuko na watu ambao wametosha kuongoza Kenya, na mmoja wao ni kijana wenu Edwin Sifuna,” the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy party leader stated.

He also criticised Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who have openly declared that they plan to wait until 2032 to vie for the presidency and inherit the office from President William Ruto, who will be leaving power.

Osotsi remarked that the region cannot afford to wait until 2032 when it already has capable leaders who can contest in 2027, with Sifuna among those considered able.

“Sasa ndugu zetu wakubwa wanataka ati tusukume Ruto arudi term ya pili alafu hao watakuja 2032,” Osotsi remarked.

Ruto’s mulembe visit

Osotsi further took a swipe at President Ruto’s planned visit to the region this week, suggesting that the president’s move is a response to the impact left by the Linda Mwananchi faction after their Kakamega rally, aiming to neutralise their influence in the Mulembe region.

Sifuna’s political clout has been rising steadily in recent months, especially after his attempted ouster from the ODM Secretary-General position and replacement by his deputy, Catherine Omanyo, who also serves as Busia Woman Representative, acting as SG pending the National Delegates Conference (NDC) decision scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Sifuna later received a reprieve from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT).

Political analysts, including Herman Manyora, have noted Sifuna’s growing influence, describing him as currently the most popular politician with no rival in terms of gravitas. Manyora has said that Sifuna has grown beyond ODM and can chart his own political path going forward, urging him to capitalise on this momentum and consider running for the presidency in 2027.

Sifuna, however, has emphasised that before taking any step toward a presidential bid or any high-profile office, he intends to tally the number of supporters under the “Sisi ndio Sifuna” banner to ensure they are committed to registering and voting on election day.

Savula’s view

On the other hand, leaders from the western region, including Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, have described Sifuna’s rising popularity as a “bushfire” — intense but short-lived. Savula claimed that Sifuna’s popularity stems from knee-jerk reactions following his ouster from the ODM and challenged him to hold another Linda Mwananchi rally to test whether turnout can match previous events.