Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has ordered his team to find a way of bringing in all attendees blocked by police at the venue where the Linda Mwananchi team is holding their meeting.

Speaking at the meeting at the Ufungamano House on Friday, March 27, 2026, Sifuna said those locked out should push to access the venue using the same means that allowed others to enter.

He challenged the heavy police presence, telling his supporters that they should not retreat in the face of restrictions.

“Nimewaambia vijana waende wakawachukue wale wenyeviti wengine waliokwama nje walikofungiwa, mtawaona wote wakiwa hapa muda si mrefu,” Sifuna said.

Loosely translated, “I have instructed the youth to go and bring in the other chairmen who have been locked out; you will see all of them here shortly,” Sifuna said.

Access to all attendees

According to Sifuna, the group had planned the meeting peacefully and expected all attendees to be granted access without interference.

He said that all the supporters waiting outside the venue will get in to join them, the way the entire team entered earlier in the morning. According to Sifuna, they will not fear to let the team join them despite the heavy police officers deployed to the area.

“Waingie vile tulivyoingia sisi. Sisi si waoga bwanaa,” Sifuna said.

“Let them get in the same way we did. We are not cowards,” Sifuna declared.

This comes amid the tension on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Ufungamano House, where the police officers stormed the venue ahead of the National Delegates Convention (NDC).

Police try to block meeting

Heavy police presence earlier in the morning of March 27, 2026 sealed off Ufungamano House, blocking access to a planned meeting by the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

The deployment comes as the party faces a defining moment and its most serious internal crisis following the death of its long-time leader, Raila Odinga, in October 2025.

According to videos circulating online seen by the People’s Daily Digital on March 27, 2026, ahead of the National Delegates Convention (NDC), a number of uniformed officers were deployed at the entrance, preventing members of the group from accessing the building.