Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has stated that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Vihiga counterpart Godfrey Osotsi’s exit from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) does not mean that they have taken the party’s supporters with them.

While speaking during an interview with a local radio station, Passaris said that the Linda Mwananchi team is actually on their own and will soon face the reality that they have no supporters or people behind them.

With Edwin Sifuna and the entire Linda Mwananchi team appearing to pull crowds across the country, Passaris stated that they are just entertaining the public.

According to her, unlike Sifuna’s team, which she terms “agenda-less”, her team has a solid plan on how they want to change the country, and that is why they are seeking a coalition agreement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Passaris further stated that it will only be after the 2027 polls that it will be known which side is more popular.

“Wacha waendelee na mambo yao, lakini hawataenda na supporters wa ODM; itafika wakati ambao reality will hit, lakini hawatenda na supporters wa ODM. THEY ARE just entertaining them,” she said.

This comes at a time when the Linda Mwananchi team has emerged as a rival to the Londa Ground Movement led by ODM party leader Oburu Odinga. The team has been conducting political rallies across the country, with the Siaya governor terming it a “tsunami” that sweeps away anyone who stands in its way.

On the other side, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, an integral member of the Linda Mwananchi team, predicted an impending split in the ODM party, saying it is going to divide into two sides: one that will move out with the party’s supporters, which in his view is their faction, and the other that will remain with the party’s official structures and documents.

Savula dismisses Sifuna’s team

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, on his side, echoed Passaris’ warnings, saying that Sifuna’s side’s popularity is like a bushfire that begins burning with fury but quickly dies out. He added that their popularity is the result of knee-jerk reactions from the masses following Sifuna’s removal from the secretary general position.