When Matiang’i announced his presidential ambitions, he assembled a formidable political network, particularly in the Gusii community.
Several influential leaders rallied behind his presidential ambitions.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi emerged among his most vocal supporters crafting the ‘Project Matiang’i’, which gained huge support following the June 2024 Gen Z demonstrations.
But just about two years into the campaign, that network is showing signs of strain.
Senator Onyonka, once one of Matiang’i’s most visible lieutenants, has now openly endorsed Sifuna for President, while maintaining he still backs Matiang’i for the top job.
This has been one of the clearest indications that the political ground beneath the former CS is shifting.
"Sifuna is a godsend. He is not fighting to become President. Kenyans want him to be President," Onyonka said on Tuesday.
This was not the first time Onyonka was backing Sifuna.
Speaking at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Taita Taveta last month, Onyonka declared Sifuna his preferred presidential candidate, describing him as his leader and Kenya’s incoming President.
Senator Onyonka described Sifuna as “my younger brother, my leader and the incoming President”.
This endorsement was significant because Onyonka had been central to Matiang’i’s efforts to consolidate support in the Gusii region and present his presidential bid.
He was among the leaders who received Matiang’i at JKIA and accompanied him during his early political activities.
Other Gusii politicians, including Kibagendi, Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo and Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo, are part of the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Kibagendi on Tuesday posted an unverified presidential opinion poll that placed Sifuna ahead of all other contenders. In the poll, Sifuna commands 27 per cent, followed by President William Ruto at 21 per cent, Matiang’i at 17 per cent and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka at 15 per cent. Gachagua trails at seven per cent, while six per cent favour other candidates and 14 per cent remain undecided.
While the poll is not an independently commissioned or scientifically verified survey, by publicly placing Sifuna ahead of Matiang’i, Kibagendi appears to acknowledge the Nairobi senator’s growing momentum.
At a Linda Mwananchi rally in Taita Taveta last month, Kibagendi said Sifuna was qualified to be President.
He delivered greetings from Matiang’i, whom he said was ready to work with Sifuna.
In another telling development, former CS and ex-Meru Governor Peter Munya on Tuesday shared a poster welcoming Sifuna for a tour in the county.
“Omwami Edwin W Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi team; Karibu Meru, Karibu Mlima Kenya,” Munya said.
A recent Tifa survey showed Sifuna's support rising from virtually zero in November 2025 to 15 per cent in June 2026.
Over the same period, Matiang’i's support fell to 14 per cent after briefly reaching 32 per cent in May 2025.
Matiang’i's problems, however, are not confined to Sifuna.
Within his own wider political camp, some allies have also shown an attraction to Rigathi Gachagua of DCP party.
Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, who had been among Matiang’i's most vocal defenders, has publicly shifted to Gachagua's camp.
Despite losing her position over her support for Matiang’i, Orwoba later turned her guns on Matiang'i’s inner circle, stating that she "had to speak" out against operational failures within his camp.
Her comments came despite her position in the Matiang’i camp and exposed the increasingly fluid nature of opposition politics.
Orwoba had previously defended Matiang’i against critics.
The emergence of competing political centres threatens Matiang’I’s home support, a crucial factor in his presidential bid.
This week, he suffered a huge blow after 14 out of 17 Nairobi county constituency party chairpersons decamped from Jubilee to DCP, including the county chairperson Stanley Kamore.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, who was elected on a Jubilee ticket, also decamped to DCP.
Earlier, blogger Pauline Njoroge, known to be close to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, also abandoned Jubilee and joined Sifuna.
