Saboti MP Caleb Amisi may have good intentions by urging Senator Edwin Sifuna to aim for the presidency. Perhaps he genuinely believes Sifuna deserves nothing less than the country’s top office.
As a colleague and friend, he may be encouraging Sifuna to seize what he sees as a rare political opportunity. That could indeed be a bold move – if it succeeds. But if it fails, Sifuna would bear the political cost alone, while Caleb Amisi would still retain his parliamentary seat.
Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino appear to have taken a different strategic view. Both have consistently argued for a united opposition, believing that victory in 2027 will require a broad coalition rather than isolated political ambitions.
From their perspective, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua brings significant political influence in the Mt. Kenya region. Whether one agrees with him or not, they believe that influence could be decisive in a closely contested election.
A few days ago, Sifuna explained why he believes working with leaders such as Gachagua is a political necessity. Speaking on a local radio station, he argued that unity offers a better chance of success than fragmented campaigns. He acknowledged that they may have political differences with Gachagua, but insisted that defeating a common opponent requires putting aside personal and tribal differences.
“We have a very heavy task ahead. This requires all of us to understand each other and put our political and tribal differences aside to succeed with our plans,” Sifuna said.
Babu Owino expressed a similar position after attending a court session in Kajiado. Addressing the media, he urged Caleb Amisi to raise his concerns within opposition meetings instead of through public exchanges on social media.
“My brother Caleb is a leader and he knows what to do. He can call us to the table and air out his thoughts instead of making noise on social media. He is talking to the wrong audience,” Babu Owino said.
The reality is that a solo presidential bid by Sifuna would be a far more difficult path than contesting as part of a united opposition alliance. Presidential elections are won through numbers, alliances, and national reach – not just individual popularity.
The 2027 election is unlikely to reward political experiments. It will demand careful strategy, unity, and calculated decisions. A failed presidential bid can have lasting political consequences for any candidate.
For that reason, encouraging Sifuna to run for the presidency without the backing of a broad coalition could be viewed as politically risky. Whether one sees it as bold or misguided depends on their assessment of the country’s political landscape, but it is certainly a high-stakes proposition.
As one social media user put it, if Caleb #Amisi is convinced that Edwin Sifuna can single-handedly win the presidency, then by the same logic, what would stop Caleb himself from running for the country’s highest office?