South Mugirango MP and National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro has cast doubt on Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's readiness to seek the presidency in 2027, arguing that the growing excitement around the senator in Western Kenya could quickly disappear if his political ambitions fail to bear fruit.
Speaking during an interview on Dr Ofweneke's podcast aired on Friday, July 31, 2026, the outspoken UDA legislator acknowledged that Sifuna's political profile has been on the rise and said he has the potential to become one of the country's leading politicians in the future. However, Osoro maintained that the Nairobi senator should first gain experience in government before setting his sights on the country's top seat.
According to the South Mugirango lawmaker, serving in government would give Sifuna a better understanding of how public institutions operate and the realities of running a country.
Osoro also warned that the same supporters currently rallying behind Sifuna in Western Kenya could turn against him if he fails to meet their expectations.
“Sifuna now has the euphoria of some young men and women, and everything is now becoming tribal. Luhyas have started feeling that this guy can rise to something, but they’ll be the first people to hit him because, man, running even a political movement is not easy,” Osoro said.
He argued that leadership at the national level requires practical experience, saying those seeking the presidency should first understand how government functions before making promises to citizens.
“So when you join government, you understand a bit of government. You stop telling people things that cannot work. How then will you run government? Government is run through taxes,” he added.
Osoro's remarks come at a time when Sifuna has increasingly been linked to a growing political movement in Western Kenya, where he has been making public appearances alongside Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.
The comments also come days after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua declared that the political momentum building in the region cannot be stopped by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.
Speaking during an interview with political analyst Herman Manyora on Friday, July 31, 2026, Gachagua said the Linda Mwananchi movement, which he associated with Sifuna and Natembeya, had gathered enough support to reshape the region's political landscape ahead of the next General Election.
“Do Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Oparanya have what it takes to stop this new wave in the West? Nothing, the Natembeya Sifuna wave is unstoppable. I know a little Western,” Gachagua said.
He further recalled serving as former President Uhuru Kenyatta's personal assistant during the 2002 election campaign, saying he witnessed how a political wave in Western Kenya swept through the region despite the presence of influential leaders.
The latest remarks from both Osoro and Gachagua add to the growing debate over the political direction of Western Kenya as leaders position themselves and their allies ahead of the 2027 General Election.