Winnie Odinga’s absence from the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Party Headquarters and Campaign Secretariat in Westlands, Nairobi, on Friday, October 30, 2026, stood out as opposition leaders gathered to show support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The East African Legislative Assembly MP was missing from the event, which brought together former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Democratic Action Party-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, activist Faith Odhiambo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The gathering on October 30, 2026, marked a major step in the movement’s preparations for the 2027 General Election, with Sifuna’s Equitable Party (TEP) serving as its political vehicle.
Babu later confirmed his attendance in a post on X, wishing Sifuna well as he embarks on the new political journey.
Orengo was also absent from the launch, adding another prominent name to the list of missing leaders. The Siaya governor, previously regarded as an influential voice within the movement, was in South Korea for talks on Kenya’s nuclear energy programme.
Babu later confirmed his attendance in a post on X, wishing Sifuna well as he begins the new political journey.
“Today, we attended the launch of the Linda Mwananchi Party Headquarters and Campaign Secretariat in Westlands Constituency, Nairobi County. Wishing my brother Edwin Sifuna all the best as he embarks on this new journey. May it be filled with success and meaningful milestones,” Babu said.
Winnie’s absence follows Nairobi Senate declaration
Winnie’s absence comes two weeks after she announced plans to contest the Nairobi senatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.
She made the declaration on October 15 during the first anniversary of her father Raila Odinga’s death at Migwena Grounds in Bondo.
“As Edwin Sifuna searches for higher offices, I see kuna space, kuna nafasi hapo Nairobi,” she said, adding that she would work with young people seeking elective posts.
She has not clarified whether she intends to seek the Orange Democratic Movement ticket or run through the Linda Mwananchi platform.
Babu has publicly backed her right to pursue the seat despite his own ambition to become Nairobi governor.
On October 17, he said he would not oppose Raila’s daughter because they were pursuing different political goals.
“I will be the last person to fight his child just because I must be the governor of Nairobi. Let her pursue her dreams, and Babu should pursue his dreams,” Babu said.
Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has interpreted Winnie’s entry into the Senate race as Sifuna’s way of countering Babu’s gubernatorial ambitions, claiming it “kills Babu’s quest” while having little effect on Lang’ata MP Jalang’o, another Senate hopeful.
Orengo pursues LDP as opposition leaders rally behind Sifuna
Orengo was also absent from the launch as he continued engagements around Kenya’s nuclear energy programme in South Korea.
On October 29, he confirmed he was holding talks with officials from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), alongside teams from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency and Kenya Electricity Generating Company. The discussions included a proposed nuclear power plant in Siaya County.
Orengo said KEPCO had trained 53 Kenyan professionals, describing the partnership as important for energy security, industrialisation in the Lake Region and job creation.
The governor has also been building his own Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), whose headquarters he recently unveiled in Siaya town. He previously expressed interest in competing for the Linda Mwananchi presidential ticket, arguing that aspirants should be allowed to face a credible nomination process instead of having a candidate imposed on them. He cited the 2007 Orange Democratic Movement Pentagon arrangement as an example.
The launch comes amid wider political realignments within the opposition. Raila Odinga Junior, speaking in Turkana North on October 23, criticised ODM members who had left the party, saying they “want to take us backwards” and insisting “our tribe is ODM.”
Linda Mwananchi is expected to hold a National Delegates Convention on November 13 to ratify its leadership and complete the rebranding process. The absence of Winnie and Orengo leaves questions about their roles in the movement as it prepares for the next election.