Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced plans for a major political rally in Bungoma County later this month, saying the meeting will mark the beginning of a wider political engagement process, ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna made the announcement on Saturday while addressing mourners during the burial of the late brother of Bumula MP Jack Wamboka in Bumula Constituency, Bungoma County.
The senator told mourners that leaders and residents from across the county would converge for the meeting to deliberate on the region’s development priorities and the country’s political future, adding that the gathering would help shape a political roadmap towards the next General Election.
“We will soon hold a major meeting in Bungoma where we shall discuss the future of our county, our region and our country,” Sifuna said.
His remarks came amid growing political activity in Western Kenya and days after a heated exchange with Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa at another funeral in Bungoma, where the two leaders clashed over national politics and the performance of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Sifuna also used the occasion to address recent developments within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), maintaining that his political future remains secure, despite his removal from the party’s secretary-general position.
The Nairobi senator dismissed claims that losing the influential party post would spell the end of his political career, arguing that leadership positions within political parties are temporary and should not define an individual’s political relevance.
“I was elected by the people before becoming secretary-general and I will continue serving them regardless of the position I hold in the party,” he said.
Sifuna insisted that his commitment to public service and democratic governance remained unchanged, adding that political leaders should derive their legitimacy from the electorate rather than party offices.
His comments come in the wake of changes within ODM that saw him removed from the secretary-general position as the party continues to navigate shifting political dynamics following its cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
The senator has in recent months emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the rapprochement between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza government, a position that has occasionally put him at odds with some leaders within his party.
Sifuna’s planned Bungoma rally is seen as an attempt to consolidate his support base in Western Kenya while positioning himself for a larger role in the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
The planned meeting is expected to attract political leaders, professionals, youth representatives and opinion leaders from across the county and could provide fresh insights into Sifuna’s political strategy, even as succession politics and alliance-building gather momentum.
As political realignments continue to take shape across the country, the Bungoma gathering is likely to be closely watched for signals on the senator’s future ambitions and the emerging political direction in Western Kenya.
By Chris Mahandara
