KITALE, Kenya — Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday 23, August 2026 made a light-hearted reference to claims that he is financing the emerging Linda Mwananchi political movement after supporters cheered loudly when he mentioned Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The exchange occurred during the 23rd memorial service of former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, where political leaders gathered to honour the late vice president’s legacy.
Uhuru was speaking about the choices facing Kenyans in the 2027 General Election and emphasising that voters would ultimately decide who becomes the country’s next president.
As he mentioned several political leaders who could feature in the 2027 contest, the crowd responded with loud cheers and ululations when he named Sifuna.
The reaction prompted Uhuru to caution the crowd against creating the impression that he was backing the Nairobi senator.
“Jameni chungeni, sitaki kuitwa sponsor,” Uhuru said, drawing laughter from those present.
The remark appeared to reference ongoing political claims that the former president is financially supporting opposition politicians seeking to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
Ruto and some of his allies have repeatedly alleged that Uhuru is supporting politicians opposed to the Kenya Kwanza administration, including figures associated with the emerging Linda Mwananchi political formation.
Sifuna, who has emerged as one of the prominent figures associated with the movement, has denied that Uhuru is financing the group.
The Nairobi senator has maintained that Linda Mwananchi draws its support from ordinary Kenyans and other well-wishers rather than being funded by the former president.
Uhuru’s joke therefore offered a brief response to a political narrative that has increasingly featured in the debate over the opposition’s preparations for the 2027 election.
The former president’s remarks came as he stressed that Kenyans would ultimately determine the country’s political leadership at the ballot.
He said voters should be free to choose whichever candidate they wanted to lead the country, regardless of the political alignments emerging ahead of the election.
The loud reaction to Sifuna’s name, however, briefly shifted the focus from Uhuru’s broader message to the political speculation surrounding his relationship with the opposition.
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The former president has largely kept a lower political profile compared with his time in office, but his name has continued to feature prominently in political debates as parties and leaders position themselves ahead of 2027.
The Kitale memorial also brought together leaders from different political camps, providing a platform for reflection on Wamalwa’s contribution to Kenya’s political history.
Uhuru’s “sponsor” quip added a lighter moment to the event while highlighting the continuing speculation over his alleged involvement in opposition politics.
Neither Uhuru nor Sifuna has publicly acknowledged that the former president is financing Linda Mwananchi, despite repeated political claims to that effect.
