Gachagua Steps Into Sifuna-Babu Fallout As Linda Mwananchi Faces Internal Strain

Story by Monyonge Kebati

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intervened in the growing disagreement between Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, calling on the two leaders and their supporters to resolve their differences before they undermine the unity of the Linda Mwananchi movement.

Gachagua said he had spoken to both Sifuna and Babu by phone while in the United States, following increasingly heated exchanges among their supporters over the direction of the political movement.

He said he had also brought Nyandarua Senator John Methu into efforts to help the two leaders find common ground.

Party Question Fuels Tensions

At the centre of the disagreement is the political vehicle Linda Mwananchi will use as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Babu has been associated with the Mwananchi Party, while Ukombozi People’s Party has also emerged in discussions surrounding the movement’s political organisation.

The competing positions have triggered sharp exchanges among supporters, particularly on social media, raising questions about whether the disagreements could affect the movement’s cohesion.

Babu has, however, continued to express support for Sifuna, suggesting that their differences over political organisation have not necessarily translated into a complete political split.

Gachagua Warns Against Division

Gachagua has urged the two leaders to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and prevent political disagreements from developing into personal or ethnic confrontation.

He also alleged that state actors were attempting to infiltrate Linda Mwananchi and exploit differences within the movement. The allegation remains Gachagua’s claim and has not been independently established.

The former deputy president’s intervention comes at a time when opposition leaders are increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 election, with questions over leadership, party structures and coalition arrangements becoming more prominent.

Jacaranda Rally Exposed Political Fault Lines

Sifuna and Babu were among opposition figures who appeared together during Linda Mwananchi’s mobilisation rally at Nairobi’s Jacaranda Grounds on September 13.

The appearance demonstrated the movement’s ability to bring together different political actors, but subsequent disagreements have put renewed attention on how the alliance will manage competing interests.

For Linda Mwananchi, the dispute presents an early test of whether its leaders can maintain a common political platform while allowing individual parties and politicians to pursue their own electoral ambitions.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, how the movement handles the Sifuna-Babu disagreement could shape its internal organisation and public image in the months ahead.