Luhya Council of Elders back Sifuna for presidency, urge opposition unity

Addressing the press in Kakamega, the elders said Sifuna had demonstrated leadership qualities felt across the country and had drawn a large national following. They were meeting to install a new forum chairman following the death of former chairman Patrick Wangamati in July.

Led by deputy chairman Noah Wekesa, the elders urged Sifuna to form a coalition with other opposition leaders and field a single candidate capable of unseating President William Ruto.

"Our son Edwin Sifuna has been accepted by a lot of Kenyans, and since he is our son, we naturally want to state very clearly that we support his efforts of wanting to join others in the political arena," Wekesa said.

The elders said Sifuna had built momentum well beyond his home region before returning to Luhya land.

"This young man has been close to 17 counties before he came here, and we have seen mammoth, huge crowds of young people, old people, poor people supporting Sifuna. So we as elders, we are right behind him," Wekesa said.

Acknowledging that the senator was not the only figure in the opposition, the elders called on him to negotiate with other party leaders and agree on a joint path to State House.

"We are quite aware that he is not alone in the opposition. Join these people, talk to them, agree with them on the way forward," Wekesa said.

The forum said it would have blessed Sifuna in person had he attended the meeting.

"If he was here, we would put our hands on his head and say, son, go ahead and join others in the effort of trying to produce new leadership in Kenya," Wekesa said.

The elders predicted that other opposition leaders would eventually coalesce around Sifuna. "He has emerged naturally, and we believe even the others will support him to be the presidential candidate," Wekesa said.

During the same meeting, veteran politician and former ambassador Burudi Nabwera was named the forum's new chairman, replacing Wangamati, who died in July.