Why Linda Mwananchi’s next political move could be United Opposition
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 2, 2026After the ouster of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, from the party helm and the formation of a rival Linda Mwananchi camp, which is largely comprised of rebels within the Orange party.
It now seems that the only way out for the Nairobi senator, who is strongly opposed to his party’s position of entering into a coalition agreement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), is to align with the United Opposition, which has since rebranded itself as the United Alternative Government.
Edwin Sifuna himself, during recent interviews with local media stations, maintained a hardline stance against his party’s decision to be part of the broad-based government and has shown interest in allying with the opposition team.
Sifuna remarked that there is agreement among a majority of Kenyans that for President William Ruto to be defeated at the polls, there must be an overwhelming repudiation from voters, especially as he seeks a second term.
He added that the president, who, according to Sifuna, has all the state machinery at his disposal and seasoned political acumen, would need to be defeated by over five million votes.
“If you speak to ordinary Kenyans, you know that when we need an overwhelming repudiation of William Ruto and everything that he stands for, it has to be overwhelming. We must beat William Ruto by at least 5 million votes,” Sifuna said.
“So for you to achieve that overwhelming repudiation, there is a common understanding amongst the population that we must approach this election as a unit,” Sifuna stated
For this to be achieved, Sifuna argued, the opposition must approach the contest as a joint force or a united front to hand the president a resounding defeat.
He further stated that he would not let Kenyans down, emphasizing that he does not want to be the one splitting votes or find the country in a situation where the President is beaten by his opponents with a narrow margin of 200,000 votes, as was the case in 2022, something he believes could have been avoided had there been an earlier pact with like-minded opposition forces who share his vision of making William Ruto a one-term president.
Sifuna also urged the opposition camp to continue with their political activities aimed at popularising their movement but encouraged them to now focus on creating a national outlook, hinting that at the right time their paths might align.
On Monday, March 2, 2026, while speaking during an interview with K24 TV, he also expressed disappointment with how the party sidelined the Wiper Party and its leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, who supported and rallied behind former Prime Minister Raila Odinga three times.
He stated that if the party were serious about forming coalitions, it should have begun with the Wiper Party, since they share similar ideals that informed their past alliances.
Amisi differs with Sifuna
He stated that before joining any formation, they should first consider whether they share common values or risk falling into the same trap they are currently trying to escape. He added that their focus should not only be on removing Ruto from office, but also on bringing an overhaul to Kenya’s political landscape.
He further noted that before entering into a pact with the opposition, they should agree on addressing some of the mistakes witnessed in the past, warning that failure to do so would make him reconsider following the rest of the team into such an alliance.
“I will say that when Sifuna was wrong, because you joined an outfit, you must have aligned yourself ideologically. What do they stand for, and what do we stand for?”
Gachagua courts Sifuna team
Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party leader Rigathi Gachagua recently came out to extend an olive branch while hinting at a possible merger with the Sifuna-led team, urging them to join the opposition alliance.
He stated that should they have a suitable presidential candidate from their formation, the rest of the United Opposition principals would be willing to shelve their own ambitions and rally behind one of their own.
From the look of things, an alliance between the Linda Mwananchi team, which has been causing ripples in Kenya’s political landscape, and the United Opposition might not be far-fetched.