Ex-political detainee Wafula BukeIf Edwin Sifuna runs as a presidential candidate in the coming elections, there will be no place for President William Ruto in Western Kenya.
It will be difficult for them [the Ruto team] to operate because, for the first time, we have a Luhya who can gather a crowd across the country.
I do not expect the usual fragmentation that happens in Western at every election.
For once, this boy has several things going for him.
He has a national constituency based on his radical outlook. He has the young people, who have their first-ever project, and this is coming against the background of a very unfortunate occurrence that put the youth in a disadvantageous position—I am talking about the famous Gen Z crackdown.
Against that background, they now have their own candidate, and it will not be easy.
The youth of Western Kenya will be his [Sifuna's] vanguard, for free.
I expect Sifuna to win with a lot of ease.
Sifuna running with any candidate as a running mate will not add up; people will just nurse disappointments.
Somebody did an opinion poll. The question asked how the various candidates would affect voter turnout.
It emerged that Kalonzo would demoralise voter turnout and enthusiasm for voting, in addition to being a representation of the past.
Actually, Sifuna has no other choice. He has to try to be at the front for the population to back him.
If it is him changing positions with Fred Matiang'i, then turnout will still be the same because Matiang'i equally inspires.
People have a lot of hope in him [Matiang'i], and they believe he can run the show well.
These two—Sifuna and Matiang'i—for me, would ensure the turnout is great.
Whoever among them takes the lead will be fine, but if they pick someone from the other side, it will not be okay.
Even if Ruto decides to give Western the running mate position, it still will not fly. You would just get nuisance value out of it.
Also, the talk that Sifuna has no money is nonsense. The most important thing is for him to be on the ballot. Money will show up.
The ex-political detainee spoke to the Star
