Sifuna’s Kakamega rally tests grip on Western bloc amid Ruto’s camp rebuff
By Aloys Michael, February 20, 2026A major political test is looming in Kakamega County as the embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna prepares to lead a high-stakes rally that could redefine his influence in Western Kenya.
The rally is both a litmus and empirical test to show that he still commands the loyalty of the Mulembe nation amid growing rifts within ODM.
As divisions deepen between the Linda Mwananchi faction and leaders aligned to President William Ruto under the broad-based arrangement, Saturday, February 21, 2026, rally is shaping up as a show of strength.
Should the pro-Ruto leaders fail to marshal support from their backyard, they will have to rethink their strategy to convince the President that they have any meaningful influence in the vote-rich Western region.
The contest for numbers in Kakamega will therefore send a strong political signal far beyond the county.
The Linda Mwananchi team, which positions itself as anti-Ruto, will be holding its third public engagement rally in Kakamega Town.
Sifuna has insisted that the rally is lawful and properly communicated to authorities. Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, February 19, 2026, he dismissed claims that security agencies had not been informed.
He revealed that he had formally notified the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) in Kakamega and even shared the notification letter widely.
“Murkomen is still on the Senate WhatsApp group because he’s a former senator. I have sent the notification for the Kakamega rally that we have made to the OCPD of Kakamega to his WhatsApp number, and I’m going to send it to the Senate WhatsApp group so that he cannot come and tell the country tomorrow that he was not aware that we are going to have a meeting,” Sifuna revealed.
Chaos in Kakamega?
His remarks follow chaos that marred a rally in Kitengela’s event, organised by Sifuna’s faction and attended by leaders, including ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi and other figures, turned violent after police lobbed teargas and fired shots to disperse crowds.
After the incident, Sifuna confirmed that one person was fatally shot.
“We lost a life needlessly. We lost a life because of police action, not because there was something wrong that we were doing,” he said, calling for accountability from officers involved.
The memory of Kitengela now hangs over the Kakamega rally, with local leaders allied to the President warning against the meeting. Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and his deputy, Ayub Savula, have both opposed the planned gathering.
Speaking separately, the two leaders described Kakamega as a broad-based government zone and urged residents to boycott the rally aimed at popularising the Linda Mwananchi wing of ODM.
“We will not allow Sifuna in Kakamega town. I urge security agencies to stay vigilant because they intend to cause mayhem like what was seen in Kitengela,” Savula said.
Savula, who recently defected to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), argued that Kakamega has been in the opposition for too long and now stands to benefit from being in government. He said mechanisms had been put in place to rally locals not to attend the rally.
“We are ready to counter the Linda Mwananchi tour. Together with the security agencies, we will not allow them to step in Kakamega,” he added.
Governor Barasa echoed similar sentiments, urging Sifuna and his team to call off the rally, which he termed a security threat, warning that the event could disrupt businesses in Kakamega Town and asked residents to remain indoors.
“I urge Kakamega residents to remain indoors on Saturday rather than coming out to listen to someone who has no development plans,” Barasa said. He added that President Ruto has invested in several development projects in Kakamega since the broad-based arrangement with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Opposition’s plan
Beyond the local standoff, the rally also comes amid pressure from Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya’s Tawe movement and the wider United Opposition, both seeking to reshape the political landscape in Western Kenya.
Coupled with this onslaught, President Ruto risks seeing his fortunes in the region dwindle before his eyes if the anti-Ruto camp consolidates support.
For Sifuna and his allies, including Godfrey Osotsi and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, the Kakamega rally is a defining moment.
But if the crowd fails to materialise, which is unlikely, it could embolden the pro-Ruto camp and deepen cracks within ODM.
As the political temperature rises, all eyes will be on Kakamega Town this Saturday as the numbers on the ground may well determine who truly holds sway in Western Kenya’s shifting political chessboard.