Nairobi Senator and Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna has dismissed claims that he lacks a political party, saying his critics underestimate his political experience and the strategies that have shaped his career.
Sifuna spoke on Friday while addressing mourners during the burial ceremony of the wife of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, where he took aim at former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s ally Cleophas Malala over remarks concerning his political affiliation.
Sifuna said he had heard Malala tell Khalwale to leave his political party to him, questioning the assumption that he was politically stranded or lacked an organised platform.
“Nimesikia hapa Malala akiambia mheshimiwa Khalwale ati aniachie chama,” Sifuna told mourners, drawing cheers from the gathering.
He argued that underestimating him and other young politicians had contributed to their ability to advance politically, saying critics often dismissed them as inexperienced because of their age.
“Hawa jamaa huwa wanakaa chini wanatuangalia wanasema ati hawa vijana ni watoto kwa siasa hawajui kile wanafanya,” he said.
Sifuna then directly challenged those who believe he has no political party, asking whether such assumptions reflected a misunderstanding of his political background.
“Yani kwa akili yako unakaa tuu na unafikiria Sifuna hana chama?” he posed amid applause and cheers from mourners.
The senator also attributed his political skills to years of learning from veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom he described as a leading political strategist.
“Hata kama unatudharau, hii siasa tumefunzwa na professor wa siasa mwenyewe Baba Raila Amollo Odinga,” Sifuna said.
His remarks come amid continued political realignments ahead of Kenya’s next electoral cycle, with political leaders positioning themselves and their parties for future alliances.
Sifuna, a former ODM Secretary-General, has remained an influential figure in opposition politics and has frequently spoken about the need for political movements to develop strategies capable of winning support beyond traditional party structures.
His comments at the burial highlighted his confidence in his political networks while signalling that he does not consider his political future dependent solely on the party label critics associate with him.