ODM SG Edwin Sifuna has announced that the Linda Mwananchi caravan will tour the country, positioning the movement as a people-driven platform born out of deep divisions within the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The Linda Mwananchi initiative, loosely translated as “Protect the Citizen,” emerged in early 2026 as a political response to internal wrangles within ODM following the death of party leader Raila Odinga. It has since evolved into a distinct faction seeking to redefine the party’s direction and challenge President William Ruto’s administration.
According to Sifuna, the movement was formed to “return the party to its founding ideals,” amid concerns that sections of ODM had grown too close to the government. The faction accuses pro-government leaders of abandoning the party’s reform agenda and weakening its role as a watchdog.
At the heart of its formation is a sharp ideological split. Linda Mwananchi was created as a counterforce to the rival “Linda Ground” faction aligned with Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, whose allies have signaled support for Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
The fallout has effectively split ODM into two camps: one backing cooperation with the government, and another pushing a hardline opposition stance. Each side claims to be the legitimate heir of Odinga’s political legacy, deepening the crisis within the party.
Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction brings together a group of prominent leaders, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi. The team has positioned itself as the anti-Ruto bloc, vowing to hold the government accountable and resist what they describe as attempts to dilute constitutional freedoms.
On the opposing side are ODM figures such as Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, who are associated with the pro-government wing.
The movement has also gained traction through grassroots mobilisation, including online registration drives that attracted tens of thousands of supporters within days of launch, and a series of rallies across the country.
Analysts say the emergence of Linda Mwananchi reflects a broader attempt to create a “third force” ahead of the 2027 General Election, breaking away from both the ruling coalition and traditional opposition alignments.
It is within this context that Sifuna announced the nationwide caravan, which he says will collect citizens’ views on governance, economic hardship, and accountability.
“Linda Mwananchi will tour the entire country to listen directly to the voices and verdicts of Kenyans,” he said.
The tour is expected to double as both a listening exercise and a political mobilisation campaign, as the faction seeks to consolidate support and shape the next phase of Kenya’s opposition politics.
