Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has disclosed that leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi held a series of meetings to address tensions emerging within the political movement as its activities and influence continued to grow.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, September 17, 2026, Onyonka said the meetings brought together senior figures including Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Vihiga Senator Godreffy Osotsi.
The senator said the gatherings went beyond ordinary political consultations, describing them as efforts to manage a crisis that had developed within the grouping.
“If you saw me with Matiang’i and Orengo and Babu and Sifuna, and Osotsi, honestly, we were not just having tea; we were managing a very interesting crisis,” Onyonka said.
Rapid growth fuels tensions
Onyonka linked the internal difficulties to the rapid expansion of Linda Mwananchi, saying its rallies and political activities had changed the political dynamics among the younger leaders associated with the movement.
He observed that politicians who experience rapid growth may not immediately recognise some of the challenges that accompany increased political prominence.
“The reality is that when you are either new in politics and young in politics, you don’t see the dangers of success,” he said.
According to Onyonka, another indication of the tensions within the grouping is that several of its principals have moved to register their own political parties.
He attributed the development partly to mistrust within Kenyan politics, saying leaders often seek to protect their individual political interests even while operating under a common political umbrella.
“One, because Kenyan politics is very distrustful, all the principals had gone and registered their political parties,” he said, adding that he had not registered one himself.
Senator questions lack of common ideology
Onyonka said the decision by individual leaders to establish separate political parties demonstrated the difficulties of maintaining unity within political formations in Kenya.
“That is how we have become as a people. That’s how we practice our politics,” he said.
He also identified the absence of a common political ideology as another challenge facing Linda Mwananchi.
“Our politics has no ideology,” Onyonka said.
The senator argued that some politicians within the grouping could be viewing a potential change of government mainly through the prospect of gaining political power and accessing the benefits that come with office.
Onyonka calls for united campaign
Despite the tensions, Onyonka said the movement should concentrate on developing a political campaign capable of earning the confidence of Kenyans.
He said leaders should focus on presenting an alternative political direction and ensuring that their campaign does not disappoint voters.
“What we have is to run a campaign which is going to be able not to disappoint Kenyans, and hopefully successfully, so that we can have a transfer of power and therefore change the direction that the country is taking,” he said.
The remarks come as leaders linked to Linda Mwananchi continue political consultations and positioning ahead of the 2027 General Election, with questions over leadership, party structures and the movement's broader political direction remaining part of the ongoing discussions.
