Sifuna: I am funded by the people, not Uhuru Kenyatta
By Faith Lagat, July 2, 2026Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed claims that retired President Uhuru Kenyatta is financing the Linda Mwananchi movement, saying its activities are supported by ordinary Kenyans, Members of Parliament and other well-wishers.
Speaking during a morning interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Sifuna said the movement operates transparently and can account for its funding through public records.
“I am not being funded by Uhuru. I am being funded by the people,” Sifuna declared.
“We have a public website there I can show you our M-Pesa statementyenye tunatumia kulipa DJ, stage, tuko Na magari sisi bi wabunge Na Mungu ametubariki wanancho pia wametubariki Kwa sababu Mimi kama mbunge mnajua mshara Wangu si ati Mimi Ni tajiri lakini siwezi kosa Magura ya kufika Kisii, Sisi tunajituma tu, tunaenda tunakuta wananchi pale tunazungumza tunatoka, Kwa hivyo hiyo tetesi ya were being funded Ni Kwa sababu watu wamezoea siasa mfumo Fulani siasa ya pesa.”
Handout politics
Sifuna said the expectation that politicians must distribute money at public meetings has contributed to speculation that opposition activities are financed by wealthy individuals.
Citing remarks by media personality Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhand, who urged Kisii residents not to attend meetings unless they were given at least Ksh500, Sifuna questioned the practicality of such expectations.
“Jana Nimeskia Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda akisema ati hapa Kisii, mtu akikuita mkutano na akupee less than Ksh500 usikubali, mi ntatoa wapi mia tano kupea umati kama ile mliona Kitengela ama Machakos ama Mlolongo. If I were to give Ksh500 to each, how much money would I need? That’s what makes politics expensive, hii siasa ya kupeana handout, Sisi hatuna hata t-shirts hatupeani hata kofia naonanga mikutano ya Simba amepiga tent kila mtu amevaa tshirt imebrandiwa. Kofia moja ni Ksh250 Na t-shirt ni kama Ksh400, you’ll need a lot of money, and that’s why people think we’re being funded,” he said.
He maintained that Linda Mwananchi meetings are sustained through contributions from elected leaders and members of the public rather than cash handouts.
Funding claims
Sifuna’s remarks come amid claims by some government-allied leaders linking the movement to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“You heard Murkomen saying politicians are under 24-hour surveillance, that he knows when I sleep and who I sleep with. So he must have seen me receiving money from Uhuru. Why can’t he show the country Uhuru Kenyatta and Edwin Sifuna exchanging money?” he posed.
“No, it’s not true. As far as I know, our party leader, even if he was to fund a party, he would fund Jubilee, not any other. Uhuru does not fund Linda Mwananchi,” Mwangi said during a K24 TV interview on June 11, 2026.
He added that the movement emerged from public concerns over the cost of living, taxation and governance.
Movement funding
The debate over Linda Mwananchi’s funding has continued as the movement expands its activities ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna has previously maintained that the rallies are driven by public support rather than paid mobilisation. According to him, Members of Parliament supporting the movement contribute towards logistical costs, including sound systems and transport, while members of the public also make donations through the movement’s paybill.
The senator has also linked the funding debate to ongoing political realignments within ODM, where he leads the Linda Mwananchi faction that has criticised aspects of the party’s engagement with the government.