Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has alleged that at one time she received a warning from a Nairobi senator, Edwin Sifuna, not to represent the interests of ordinary citizens if she wanted monetary gain from the government in the prevailing parliamentary conditions.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, February 2026, Njeri acknowledged minimal contact with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and she said they once spoke out about the reality of the state of the current regime and the independence of Parliament.

“I don’t know Sifuna very well, and we’ve had very minimal interactions, but one day he told me there are 2 things in this Parliament. If you’re eating, you shut up and turn a blind eye to everything, but if you will defend the people, you can be certain that you will not make any money in this regime,” Njeri said.

The first-time lawmaker says that there was the choice of keeping quiet and not paying notice to dubious things in order to gain money and the other one of defending the people and losing the mentioned gains.

In her remarks, Njeri explained that she decided to protect the people even because of the said warning, which made her stand on principle and integrity.

Her comments contribute to the current debate regarding the accountability, political loyalty, and ethical behaviour of the lawmakers.

Sifuna’s opposition to govt

Edwin Sifuna, the senator for Nairobi County and embattled secretary-general of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of what he describes as the weakening of legislative independence under the administration of President William Ruto.

A statement from Njeri Mina claims that the Parliament of Kenya has increasingly become compromised, alleging that some Members of Parliament have been co-opted through political patronage and financial inducements, thereby undermining their ability to hold the government accountable.

The remarks from the Kirinyaga woman representative reflect broader political tensions between the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza administration, with Sifuna positioning himself and his Linda Mwananchi faction of the ODM Party as defenders of institutional integrity and accountability within Kenya’s governance framework.