Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin #Sifuna on Saturday led the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance leadership to Busia County for the maiden Linda Mwananchi tour, using the platform to launch a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration over unfulfilled political agreements and rising economic pressure on Kenyans.
Addressing residents in Busia town, Sifuna accused President Ruto of bad faith, arguing that the government had failed to honour key political and governance agreements reached with opposition leader Raila Odinga. In a fiery speech that drew cheers from the crowd, Sifuna warned that if the President had reneged on commitments made to Raila Odinga, then there was no guarantee that agreements involving other leaders, including Oburu Odinga, would be respected.
“Kama Ruto amekataa kutimiza agreement ya Raila, hawezi ya Oburu,” Sifuna declared, insisting that trust in leadership must be anchored on integrity and respect for dialogue outcomes.
The Senator said the Linda Mwananchi tour was designed to reconnect Azimio with ordinary citizens, listen to their grievances, and amplify public concerns on the high cost of living, taxation, unemployment, and what he termed as shrinking democratic space. He accused the government of prioritising political survival over the welfare of wananchi, saying Kenyans were being overburdened by punitive taxes with little relief in return.
Sifuna also defended Azimio’s role as the official opposition, stating that the coalition would continue to hold the government accountable both in Parliament and at the grassroots. He urged residents of #Busia to remain vigilant and united, noting that public pressure was key to safeguarding democracy and economic justice.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino delivered a fiery speech, calling out a section of ODM leaders for selfishly exploiting the party to advance their own personal interests at the expense of its founding principles.
On his part, explosive Siaya Governor James Orengo told supporters at the Busia Stadium that they will not sell their party to any bidder despite the pressure from btokers.
The Linda Mwananchi tour is expected to traverse several counties in Western Kenya and beyond, as Azimio intensifies grassroots mobilisation and positions itself as the voice of citizens disenchanted with the current administration. #LindaMwananchi