Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has issued a statement after the freshly launched Linda Mwananchi website — lindamwananchi.com — was taken offline following overwhelming public engagement and sustained cyberattacks.
In his message to supporters on Saturday, March 14, Sifuna acknowledged the enthusiasm that greeted the platform’s launch just a day earlier.
“What a start! LindaMwananchi.com went live yesterday and thousands of you signed up. That’s the energy we need,” he said, reflecting on the early momentum as thousands of Kenyans registered within hours of going online.
Sifuna thanked the public for the feedback and ideas shared on how to improve the site, even as the platform faced “thousands of malicious attacks.”
He described the decision to take the site offline as a necessary step to address technical shortcomings and strengthen its security.
“On behalf of the entire team, thank you so much!” he said, urging supporters for “patience kidogo tu” as developers work on upgrades.
The Linda Mwananchi initiative — translated as “Protect the Citizen” — has emerged in recent weeks as a grassroots mobilisation platform tied to a faction within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) led by Sifuna.
The initiative has drawn supporters around issues of governance, civic engagement, and internal party direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The temporary offline status of the site sparked both concern and debate online, with some commentators pointing to technical challenges tied to data privacy and cyber security, and others seeing the enthusiasm as a sign of broader public interest in new channels of political participation.
Sifuna’s statement strikes a conciliatory tone while reaffirming the movement’s commitment to inclusive participation.
He acknowledged not only the “malicious attacks” but also the constructive suggestions received on improving the platform’s functionality. The senator said the feedback would inform improvements before the site’s relaunch.
Analysts say the Linda Mwananchi platform is part of broader efforts by the Sifuna-led faction to build grassroots momentum as internal ODM tensions persist, particularly around questions of leadership direction and electoral strategy.
As the team works to resolve technical issues, Sifuna’s appeal for patience aims to reassure supporters that the platform will return stronger and more secure. “