Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna/FILE
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has dismissed claims that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is financing the Linda Mwananchi movement, saying the former Head of State has neither provided financial support nor a campaign strategy.
Speaking on Citizen TV's The Explainer on Tuesday night, Sifuna said the movement is relying on public support.
"No, he's not," Sifuna said.
The senator's remarks come amid public debate over the financing of the Linda Mwananchi movement, which recently launched an M-Pesa paybill to raise small public donations for logistics, rallies, security and other campaign-related activities.
The initiative was introduced to encourage crowdfunding, with supporters urged to contribute modest amounts.
Asked whether he speaks to the former president, Sifuna said he remained in contact with Uhuru because of his role as a leader in the opposition coalition.
"I speak to him because he's the party leader of Azimio. I do speak to Uhuru, yeah," Sifuna said.
He added that Uhuru and the late opposition leader Raila Odinga had a long-standing friendship, making occasional interactions normal.
"And he was a friend to the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga. So when you run into him, you talk to him. Ama will avoid him?"
Sifuna said Uhuru's involvement has been limited to publicly encouraging young people to take up leadership.
"He does not provide financial assistance, maybe just encouraging us," he said, adding that the former president has repeatedly urged young people to participate in politics.
"When he speaks, and he does it in public, he says young people need to be encouraged to take leadership. You've heard him saying it," he said.
The senator said many young people had responded by seeking elective positions, including as Members of County Assembly, Members of Parliament, senators and governors.
Asked whether Uhuru had offered strategic guidance to the movement, Sifuna replied: "No. None at all."
On funding, the senator said the movement preferred support from ordinary Kenyans rather than a few wealthy individuals.
"I would rather be indebted to 10 million Kenyans who've sent me 10 bob each, than two people sitting and saying we have 5 million shillings each," he said, adding that the movement wanted to shield itself from "that corrupting influence of money."
