Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has launched a scathing attack on Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, dismissing his perceived presidential ambitions and questioning his credibility on national leadership.
In a candid statement on Tuesday , July 28, Nyamu likened Sifuna’s political rise to that of Lemma Ayanu, an Ethiopian man who once claimed to be Mau Mau General Stanley Mathenge and briefly captured public attention before facing scrutiny.
“Huyu beste yangu Sifuna reminds me of Lemma Ayanu… He was hyped! There were headlines! VIP treatment… then, with time, the questions began,” Nyamu said.
She argued that a similar pattern is emerging around Sifuna, warning that early political excitement may not translate into sustained credibility under public scrutiny.
Nyamu took particular issue with Sifuna’s criticism of key government projects, including affordable housing, markets, roads, stadiums, and Universal Health Coverage.
She questioned why the Nairobi Senator would dismiss initiatives that mirror proposals contained in ODM leader Raila Odinga’s manifesto.
“It makes me wonder if he ever read Raila Odinga’s manifesto he campaigned on as SG of ODM. Most of what President Ruto is implementing today was already in that manifesto. So what exactly is he dismissing?” she posed.
The outspoken senator also accused Sifuna of engaging in ethnic-based politics, pointing to his political mobilisation in Western Kenya.
“Wasn’t Sifuna supposed to be the young people’s candidate? Yet here he is… going to his tribesmates… The same old tribal politics from the Moi era,” she said.
Nyamu further dismissed Sifuna’s public image, suggesting that his influence is driven more by entertainment than substance.
“His most famous quote… that is entertainment tu kama mugithi,” she added.
While acknowledging calls for generational change in leadership, Nyamu maintained that leadership requires experience and ideological grounding, not just youth.
“Uongozi hutoka kwa Mungu… Hakuna kiongozi medium rare, only well done… He’s not the one. At least not yet.”
Her remarks add to the intensifying political debate around potential contenders ahead of the 2027 General Election, with divisions emerging over what defines credible leadership in Kenya’s evolving political landscape.