Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is emerging as a potential challenger to Kenyan President William Ruto ahead of the country’s 2027 presidential election, drawing growing support from young voters and critics of the government.
Kenya is scheduled to hold its next general election in August 2027, but the opposition field remains unsettled, with several figures expected to compete for the opportunity to challenge Ruto.
Sifuna, 44, has gained popularity among young Kenyans, particularly after he sought to intervene during police crackdowns on the protests that swept the country in June 2024.
The former lawyer has since attracted large crowds during tours across the country, including a rally in Nairobi on Sunday, although he has yet to formally declare his intention to contest the presidency.
His public campaign has so far centred largely on criticism of Ruto’s administration, which he accuses of undermining the rule of law and tolerating impunity.
“(Ruto) doesn’t believe in the rule of law. He doesn’t believe in democracy. He doesn’t believe in freedom,” Sifuna told AFP in an interview at his Nairobi office.
His growing profile has also made him a target. Some of his rallies have been disrupted by groups of young men, reflecting the tensions that have increasingly accompanied political activities in Kenya.
“It has been quite amazing to see the people showing up to our meetings, despite all the threats, all the intimidation,” Sifuna said.
He added that attacks on political motorcades and the reported killing and maiming of people represented a troubling development in the country’s politics.
Despite his growing popularity, analysts remain cautious about his presidential prospects.
Political analyst Javas Bigambo said Sifuna had yet to establish himself as a compelling presidential candidate or clearly define his position on major policy issues.
Bigambo also pointed to Sifuna’s limited experience, noting that he has served only one term as a senator.
However, Sifuna previously served as secretary-general of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), one of Kenya’s longstanding opposition parties. His supporters believe his political network could help him attract some of the support once associated with the late opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Sifuna has acknowledged the rapid change in his political profile, saying his life has changed significantly as public interest in his activities has grown.
“If you allow fear to paralyse you, you will never do anything,” he said.
He has avoided outlining a detailed presidential policy platform, saying he is working with experts to develop a manifesto.
“We accept there are people who know things better than us, and they need to be given the opportunity to help you run a government,” he said.
Sifuna has also rejected criticism of his age, arguing that his experience as a senator should not be discounted because he is relatively young.
His supporters say his campaign is receiving small donations from ordinary Kenyans, an approach they see as different from the traditional financing of political campaigns.
Critics, however, have alleged that former President Uhuru Kenyatta could be providing financial backing. Sifuna has denied being controlled by any political figure.
He said the protests of 2024 had fundamentally altered Kenyan politics by mobilising young people around economic and governance issues rather than the ethnic and political alliances that have traditionally shaped elections.
At a Nairobi gathering on Sunday, supporters said they saw Sifuna as a potential break from established political figures.
Joshua Kebwago, 32, said Sifuna represented a new direction and expressed support for his emphasis on reducing the cost of living and improving economic conditions.
Kenya has a median age of about 20, giving young voters significant influence over the country’s political future.
Sifuna acknowledged that the energy behind the youth movement remained largely untested but said he was prepared to take on the challenge.
“There is this new energy that everybody is aware of, but is also untested,” he said.
“The only pressure you feel is that there are more people to disappoint… You cannot mess it up.”
