A fundraising drive launched by the Linda Mwananchi movement attracted thousands of supporters on its first day, collecting Sh519,144 from small public donations after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna appealed to Kenyans to contribute Sh10 towards the movement's activities.
Figures released by the organisers on July 21, 2026, show that 9,419 people made contributions during Monday's exercise. The campaign registered an average donation of Sh55, with the highest individual contribution reaching Sh5,000 while the lowest amount received was Sh1.
The organisers said the contributions were made between 7:30 am and 6 pm, meaning the amount was raised within about 10 and a half hours.
Supporters made their donations through M-Pesa Paybill number 3033049, where contributors are required to use their phone numbers as the account number when sending money.
Sifuna introduced the paybill on Monday, asking Kenyans to contribute Sh10 each to help meet the movement's logistical and operational costs.
He also responded to claims that the movement is being financed by wealthy individuals, saying those making the allegations should decide which claim they believe.
The senator explained that because Linda Mwananchi has not yet been registered as a political party, the fundraising account had to be opened using his official name.
"The critics should choose one battle. If I'm someone's project, then I have money; why do they then say that I do not have money? They should choose one, either I have or do not have money. Either I have a sponsor or do not have one," Sifuna said during an interview at Mulembe FM.
"I want to explain to Kenyans about our paybill. We have not registered Linda Mwananchi as a party, so when we are looking for a paybill account, we use our official names. You will see my name on the paybill. The paybill number is 3033049. You will see the name E Sifuna."
Sifuna assured supporters that the movement would openly declare how much money is collected and how every contribution is spent.
"Send me those Sh10, and I shall later announce how much we have raised. Because we have agreed on equality, and the paybill is under my name, when we sit with other leaders, we show them all the money that has come in so far and how we have utilised it," he said.
He said the money is used to pay for services and other expenses linked to the movement's activities, including public meetings across the country.
"We use the money to pay DJ Spider and also pay for other logistics. For example, we used the money to support our brother who passed on in Kisii during our rally. The money came from Linda Mwananchi," he said.
Sifuna maintained that the fundraising effort is intended to keep the movement running rather than benefit individual leaders.
"We are not looking to enrich ourselves. We do not need too much money. What we need is to cover the logistics of attending some of these meetings," he said.