Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has said he will not seek billions from wealthy individuals to finance his political activities, insisting that Linda Mwananchi will rely on contributions from ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi tour of Trans Nzoia County on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Sifuna said the movement had raised Ksh3 million through its paybill in less than three days.

“Wanasema hatuna pesa lakini watu wa Kitale wacha niwaambie, nimeona ma Ksh10bob zenu kwa paybill yetu ya Linda Mwananchi. Chini ya siku tatu, tumefikisha shilingi milioni tatu kwa paybill. Sisi hatutaenda kutafuta pesa ya ufisadi,” Sifuna said.

The senator said the contributions, including Ksh10 donations from Kenyans, demonstrated that the movement could mobilise resources without relying on wealthy political financiers.

He further added that if wealthy individuals bankroll his campaign, they would come demanding tenders and other favours if he beats President William Ruto in the 2027 contest.

To avoid such demands, Sifuna made it clear that he would not abandon his people-centred approach to raising money to support his campaigns.

I don’t need your money

Sifuna’s remarks came days after he rejected an offer by Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli to help raise Ksh1 billion for his presidential campaign.

Speaking during a local radio interview on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Sifuna said he preferred to be supported by ordinary Kenyans rather than accept money from wealthy individuals.

“Sai anasema yeye ndiye ako na one billion ati anaweza pea Sifuna. Mimi sitaki pesa yako, mzee. I do not need that money. Let Kenyans continue giving me money,” Sifuna said.

“I would rather be indebted to Kenyans because they gave me Ksh10 than Atwoli.”

Pesa is not the answer

Sifuna also questioned the source of the proposed funding and called for an end to the reliance on wealthy political financiers.

“Naomba Wakenya, we need to free our politics from this dirty money. Kwanza, wewe one billion umetoa wapi? Wafanyakazi wanalia huku na wewe unapeana one billion,” he said.

The senator further argued that money alone could not guarantee electoral success, citing the Ol Kalou by-election.

“Wanasema eti hatuna pesa. Watu wa Ol Kalou wameonyesha ya kwamba hiyo pesa yenu haiwezi wasaidia. Pesa is not the answer,” he said.

Atwoli’s offer

Atwoli made the Ksh1 billion offer during a fundraiser at Mwichina Church of God in Lurambi Constituency on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

He told Sifuna that he could help raise the money to support a presidential campaign, arguing that established leaders and networks were crucial in securing the presidency.

“Na wewe ukitaka kuwa president katika Kenya hii, mimi ndiye naweza kukusaidia kuraise hata one billion kwa dakika moja ili uwe president,” Atwoli said.

Sifuna’s latest remarks have now sharpened the debate over the financing of his growing political movement, with the senator positioning Linda Mwananchi as a grassroots initiative funded through contributions from ordinary Kenyans rather than wealthy political backers.