Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced that the Linda Mwananchi paybill has been restored, hours after claiming it had been shut down.

In a post on X on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Sifuna wrote: “Eish! Mmewapasha wakaogopa. Paybill is back up.”

The update followed his earlier claim that the paybill had been closed after what he described as “orders from above.”

Sifuna claimed paybill was shut down

Earlier on Thursday, Sifuna wrote on Facebook that Safaricom PLC had suspended the Linda Mwananchi paybill.

“Safaricom PLC wamefunga paybill ya mwananchi after ‘orders from above’,” he wrote on X.

The paybill was unveiled this week to raise funds for the Linda Mwananchi political movement.

Sifuna previously said it was registered under his name because the movement is not a registered political party.

Before the reported interruption, the fundraising drive had collected more than KSh2.2 million, according to Sifuna. The movement is preparing for political rallies in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia.

Linda Mwananchi ally Pauline Njoroge also reacted to the development on Facebook.

“Wanadhani wakifunga paybill Trans Nzoia na Bungoma hazitafanyika?” she wrote.

No response from Safaricom

David Nthua, a political affairs and current affairs writer at People Daily Digital, sought a response from Safaricom PLC through the company’s official Facebook page regarding Sifuna’s claim that the paybill had been closed following “orders from above.”

Safaricom had not responded by the time of publication.

People Daily Digital also sought a response from Pauline Njoroge regarding her remarks. She had not responded by the time of publication.

Sifuna did not explain what led to the restoration of the paybill. Safaricom had also not issued a public statement on the reported temporary interruption.

The restoration comes as the Linda Mwananchi movement continues its fundraising campaign ahead of planned political activities in western Kenya.