Gaucho was once again in the spotlight after launching another round of explosive attacks, this time targeting Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and the outspoken Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
According to Gaucho, the two leaders represent the worst political choice Nairobi could make, arguing that it would be a tragedy if either of them were elected to higher office in 2027.
His criticism of Babu Owino may carry some weight, considering the two were once close associates. It is no secret that Babu’s conduct in his younger political years attracted widespread criticism. However, people can and do change. The more important question is whether there are better alternatives. Nairobi currently has Governor Johnson Sakaja, yet many of his critics argue that his leadership has also fallen short of expectations. If voters are willing to judge leaders solely by their past mistakes, then many public officials—including those who portray themselves as morally upright—would never qualify for office. We have leaders who publicly preach virtue yet fail to live by those same standards.
What particularly caught my attention, however, was Gaucho’s attack on Edwin Sifuna.
He described the Nairobi senator as arrogant, anti-social and “extremely evil,” even claiming that Sifuna cannot stretch out his hand to greet ordinary people.
But how accurate are those allegations?
Anyone who has followed Sifuna’s public engagements has seen him interacting freely with supporters, colleagues and members of the public. He is regularly seen greeting people at political rallies, public functions and media events. To broadly conclude that he refuses to greet people appears to be an exaggeration unless supported by credible evidence.
Of course, it is possible that Gaucho experienced a personal incident where Sifuna declined to shake his hand. Even if that happened, context matters. Gaucho has never been politically aligned with Sifuna. In fact, he has long been associated with Robert Alai, who at one point publicly clashed with Sifuna during a rally attended by Raila Odinga. Political rivalries naturally create tension. It would not be surprising if Sifuna chose to keep his distance from someone he viewed with suspicion or as politically hostile. That alone would not justify branding him anti-social.
What was more disappointing was seeing media personality Wilbroda appear to lend some support to Gaucho’s narrative during their podcast discussion.
Wilbroda recalled that she once tried calling Sifuna several times but he neither answered nor returned the calls. While that may have been her personal experience, it does not necessarily prove that Sifuna is rude or dismissive.
In fact, Sifuna has repeatedly explained during interviews that he is not good at answering phone calls. He has openly admitted that he prefers receiving short text messages or WhatsApp messages because they are easier for him to respond to. That explanation has been consistent over time.
Many people operate the same way. Not everyone enjoys lengthy phone conversations. A simple text message often receives a quicker response than an unexpected phone call.
Public figures should certainly remain accessible, but isolated personal experiences should not be used to paint someone’s entire character. Serious accusations deserve solid evidence, not assumptions or political differences.