Linda Mwananchi team ready for Tononoka rally in Mombasa

Linda Mwananch principal Moses “Civilizer” Aran at Tononoka ground on March 27, 2026/ BRIAN OTIENO

Linda Mwananch principal Moses “Civilizer” Aran at Tononoka ground on March 27, 2026/ BRIAN OTIENO

ODM members allied to Team Linda Mwananchi in Mombasa have said they are ready to host their national leaders at Tononoka ground on Sunday for the Mombasa series of the Linda Mwananchi campaign.

Led by Moses “Civilizer” Aran, the group said they have notified all relevant authorities of the rally and have been assured of security by security agents.

They called on all peace-loving Kenyans who want justice for this and the next generation to turn up in large numbers for the Tononoka rally.

Civilizer, who is a principal member of Linda Mwananchi, said it is time young people actualize their ambitions by taking leadership mantles from the old guard.

“These positions have for a long time been in the hands of the old guard. Now we want to change that. As long as you are confident in your leadership abilities, take the mantle and lead,” Civilizer said.

He dismissed the Linda Ground Special Delegates Conference that was held at Jamhuri grounds in Nairobi as a rubber-stamping meeting for the old guard who do not want the youth to lead.

The former nominated MCA in the Mombasa County Assembly said right now the old guard think their movement is a joke.

“But let me tell Kenyans, in the next two months, those who are hiding will come out openly to ask for positions but they will not find any left. They will all have been taken by young people,” Civilizer said.

He said the country is moving in the wrong direction and the young people must stand up against the trajectory.

“Let no one sell fear to us. The only people who can sell fear to us are wananchi. The other people tried to block us from holding our meeting at Ufungamano House, yet they were holding theirs at Jamhuri Grounds. That is the kind of leadership we are against,” he said.

“The two venues are very far apart. Why were those going to rubber-stamp issues fearful of the progressive meeting of the young people?” the former MCA said.

“Let those who want to linda ground, which has no wananchi, protect it while we linda the people who have stood with ODM through thick and thin,” Civilizer said.

Edwini Shamir, one of the organizers, said Kenya is a democratic country that is governed by the rule of law.

“We don’t want to see the selective democracy that is going on this the country. We want all persons to be allowed to exercise their freedom of speech without intimidation like we saw in Ufungamano House in Nairobi,” Shamir said.

On Friday, police attempted to block the Team Linda Mwananchi, led by embattled Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, from accessing the Ufungamano House for their parallel ODM NDC.

“We want a peaceful meeting in Mombasa. Let the security apparatus in Mombasa not be misused by those in power today. We know the docket you are leading are independent institutions which we fund through our taxes,” Shamir said.

Bradley Ouna, a political activist, said no one should fear anything, urging Kenyans to turn up in large numbers for the Tononoka rally on Sunday.

“We have followed all due procedure, and there is no reason our meeting will not take place. We will be there and we will continue protecting our people and their rights,” Ouna said.

Ouna said for change to take place in the country, fear must depart from the people.

“We cannot initiate any meaningful change if we have fear. We must not be led by fear. We must be led by the constitution, which is one of the most progressive ones in the world,” Ouna said.

Ali Kubo, a youthful activist who is eying the Mombasa senator position, said the young people are the ones who will save the country from the wrong direction it is taking.

“The youth have woken up, and time has come for us to lead the country,” Kubo said.

Samuel Oduma, the Team Sifuna chair in Mombasa, said all are welcome.

“Someone once told us to leave teargases in Kitengela. My question is, are teargases stored in police stations or residential houses?” Oduma said.

He was responding to ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir, who said the Linda Mwananchi brigade is welcome in Mombasa but should not come with tear gas.

Nassir was insinuating that the Linda Mwananchi brigade disrupt their own meetings with teargas so as to lay blame on the Linda Ground brigade.

“Our events are peaceful ones. This one will be peaceful too,” Oduma said.

Linda Mwananchi rally coordinator Daniel Lucho said they will start their Sunday activities with a church service at a venue to be announced later and then proceed to the Tononoka ground after church.

He said they believe the meeting will be peaceful as long as they have the numbers.

Former Mombasa woman representative Asha “Ashu” Mohamed, who had not been seen in public for almost three years, resurfaced amid calls for women to turn up in numbers for the Sunday rally.

“We must ensure that liberation is also done in Mombasa,” she said.