Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli speaking during Citizen TV’s Sunday Live show on Sunday night/ SCREENGRABCentral Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has challenged Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s grassroots fundraising strategy, saying small contributions collected from markets cannot finance a successful presidential campaign.
Speaking during Citizen TV’s Sunday Live show on Sunday night, Atwoli said political structures and strategy were essential for anyone seeking the presidency.
“My friend, you can’t win an election without structures and strategy. This is what I’m telling you,” Atwoli said.
He criticised Sifuna’s fundraising activities, which have involved collecting small contributions from members of the public during Linda Mwananchi mobilisation activities.
“Going to the markets with buckets, taking Sh5 from the old women. In Kenya, you cannot use money contributed from markets to become a president,” Atwoli said.
Atwoli said Sifuna appeared to be borrowing from the fundraising approach associated with former United States President Barack Obama.
“He is trying to help the Obama’s way of soliciting for funds and so on. Kenya is not America. Kenya is not the US. We have our own culture and traditions of doing things,” he said.
Atwoli said Sifuna should not assume that the crowds attending his political rallies or the money collected from supporters would translate into a presidential victory.
“You cannot be seen on the local market collecting. That money cannot make you a president in Kenya, my friend,” he said.
Sifuna has previously defended the approach, saying Linda Mwananchi would rely on contributions from ordinary Kenyans rather than wealthy political financiers.
During a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia county, in July, residents contributed small amounts to the movement. Sifuna said he preferred receiving small contributions from many Kenyans rather than relying on a single wealthy financier.
The disagreement over campaign financing has become part of the wider debate surrounding Sifuna’s presidential ambitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Atwoli has previously told Sifuna that his time to seek the presidency had not yet come, urging him to focus on building a political team before pursuing a national campaign.
“The time is not ripe for the young man. The time is not now for Edwin Sifuna, but we are recognising his introduction,” Atwoli said.
“He is going to be there after us, but the time is not now.”
Atwoli said political leaders should be honest with Sifuna about the challenges ahead rather than encouraging him to pursue an ambition for which he was, in his view, not adequately prepared.
“We must be sincere, specific and honest and tell him his time is not now,” Atwoli said.
Sifuna, meanwhile, has continued with Linda Mwananchi grassroots mobilisation, including rallies and engagements with supporters across the country.
