Sifuna, Orengo, Osotsi, Babu Owino to lead Linda Mwananchi charge in Vihiga

The Linda Mwananchi faction is set for a busy weekend of activities in the Western and Nyanza regions, beginning in Vihiga on Saturday.

The team will be led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi among others.

The Vihiga rally will play curtain raiser for the much awaited trip to Kisumu on Sunday, which has come under heavy criticism from a section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Linda Ground members.

Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi on Friday cautioned the team against what he said was disrespecting ODM party leader Oburu Oginga.

Addressing a roadside rally in Kisumu, Atandi accused the Linda Mwananchi faction of dragging the region back into the opposition, lining up projects implemented by the government.

The legislator rallied residents to accompany him to the Sunday rally, which will be held at Owuor Grounds in Kisumu, where President William Ruto launched the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line in March.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja previously reaffirmed that the Linda Mwananchi faction of a safe political rally set to be held in Kisumu amid a spike in deployment of goons in public gatherings.

Speaking before the Senate Defence Committee on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi's attack on Thursday, IG Kanja said that the police force is cracking down on the rising cases of goon attacks and has rounded up their secret operations.

The rally also comes after Governor Orengo declared himself the “people’s party leader” of ODM, accusing the current party leadership of soiling the legacy of the late Raila Odinga.

Speaking in Kisumu on Friday, Orengo claimed that the Linda Mwananchi faction remains the last “steady wheel” holding together the Orange party, which he said is under growing threat from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.