A faction of Mumias East residents has inaugurated a Linda Mwananchi office within the constituency, openly challenging the opposition from the area's Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya.
The office launch was led by Fred Muka, a political aspirant aiming to replace Salasya as Mumias East MP and a supporter of the Linda Mwananchi movement. Muka emphasized the strong backing for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna among locals, stating that the community is united behind the senator’s presidential ambitions.
"Everyone has accepted Senator Edwin Sifuna. We are all rallying behind him; there is one person who has a problem with me. This is the first Linda Mwananchi office, and it will be unveiled by Sifuna himself," Muka declared.
This development intensifies the political rivalry in Mumias East, where Salasya has publicly questioned Sifuna’s viability as a presidential candidate. Instead, Salasya supports Eugene Wamalwa, leader of the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), positioning him as the preferred candidate for Western Kenya.
The opening of the office coincides with Linda Mwananchi’s ongoing efforts to register formally as a political party, a process the group claims is being obstructed by government interference at the highest level.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, spokesperson for Linda Mwananchi, accused President William Ruto of directing the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to block their registration. Omondi also criticized the registrar, John Lorionokou, for allegedly sabotaging the application under presidential orders.
Omondi invoked the legacy of the late Raila Odinga to assert that the movement will not be intimidated or deterred in its pursuit of official recognition.
The Mumias East office launch reflects Linda Mwananchi’s broader strategy of building grassroots support nationwide, even as its formal party registration remains stalled. It also highlights a growing divide between MP Salasya and segments of his constituency who are increasingly aligning with Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
