Siaya Governor James Orengo is facing a fresh test within Linda Mwananchi as competing ambitions over the movement's 2027 presidential ticket threaten to complicate efforts to build a united opposition front against President William Ruto.
Orengo has declared his interest in the presidency but insists that he should be allowed to compete through a credible nomination process rather than have the ticket handed to any individual.
“There is nothing wrong with competing ambitions within Linda Mwananchi or the opposition. What matters is that we subject all candidates to a credible nomination process and, at the end of it, we emerge with one candidate to face Ruto,” Orengo said.
His position has placed him alongside Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has emerged as one of the most prominent presidential hopefuls within the movement.
But Orengo has sought to play down the differences between the two, describing Sifuna as his political ally and promising to negotiate with him.
“Sifuna is my son. I want to announce that Sifuna and I will sit together at the negotiation table to ensure that we liberate Kenya,” Orengo said.
Sifuna has also spoken in favour of negotiations, saying the opposition should eventually present one candidate.
“As the opposition, we will present one presidential candidate. I will speak with Riggy G, Kalonzo, and Orengo so that we can produce a single candidate,” Sifuna said.
The competing ambitions have nevertheless exposed an emerging fault line within Linda Mwananchi, particularly over whether Sifuna should be treated as the movement's preferred candidate before a formal nomination process.
Babu Owino, who is also part of the movement's leadership, has publicly backed Sifuna while defending Orengo's right to seek the presidency.
“I have already stepped aside and declared my support for Sifuna for the presidency. However, I also defend the right of my comrade Bob Orengo to vie for the presidency. We will produce one candidate,” Babu said.
At another point, Babu sought to dismiss suggestions of a confrontation between him and Sifuna over their respective political ambitions.
“Sifuna is our presidential candidate, Linda Mwananchi, and that is very clear. There is no way I can fight Sifuna because I want to be Governor and he wants to be President. Don’t bring tension where there is none,” he said.
The debate over the presidential ticket has also raised questions about Orengo's position within the movement.
Homa Bay politician Richard Onyonka said Orengo's presidential ambitions were central to his role in the emerging opposition coalition.
“Orengo is like the Ker (leader) of the Luo nation and that is why he is also eyeing the presidency. You cannot demand to sit on the table when you are not a presidential candidate,” Onyonka said.
The internal debate comes as Linda Mwananchi attempts to transform itself from a loose opposition grouping into a political vehicle capable of challenging Ruto in 2027.
The movement has also been dealing with disagreements over which political party should provide its electoral vehicle, with Babu pushing his Mwananchi Party while other leaders favour broader arrangements involving other opposition parties.
The tensions have attracted the attention of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who has urged Sifuna and Babu to contain disagreements among their supporters.
“I know there is a small challenge within Linda Mwananchi between supporters of Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino, trading barbs and insulting each other,” Gachagua said.
He urged the two leaders to work together rather than allow their supporters to turn their differences into a wider conflict.
Orengo has meanwhile come under attack from Ruto, who criticised him during the President's recent tour of Siaya.
“Now he has hired Orengo and others. They have no agenda, they have no policies, they have no sense, they are useless,” Ruto said, referring to opposition leaders. He also challenged Orengo to stop what he described as “Linda sponsor politics” and work with the national government on development projects in Siaya.
Ruto's comments were made in the context of his criticism of opposition leaders and represented his political characterisation of their agenda.
Orengo has not abandoned his presidential ambitions despite the criticism or the growing support for Sifuna within Linda Mwananchi.
Instead, he has continued to argue for an open process that would allow competing candidates to test their support before the opposition settles on one candidate.
