Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna chose to face the rain with his supporters. An umbrella was offered, but it was turned down.
The moment came during a Linda Mwananchi mobilisation rally in Kwale on Saturday. As heavy rain fell, the senator insisted that he should not be given special treatment while the crowd remained exposed.
“Boss, if someone is getting rained on, then let us all get rained on. Why should you be covering me with an umbrella?” he asked.
He then delivered a line that drew attention from the gathering.
“I was not made of sugar; I am made of soil. Even if the rains come pouring down, we will not melt,” he said.
The address continued despite the downpour. The gesture offered a moment of symbolism during a campaign focused on building support beyond Nairobi.
Five Stops Planned Across Kwale
The county tour was organised around five engagements. It began in Samburu Town at 10am, before moving to Kinango Town, Kombani Junction and Lunga Lunga.
The day’s programme was scheduled to end with a major rally at Ukunda Showground at 3pm.
Residents had been urged to attend the meetings. The movement said the visits were intended to strengthen its grassroots presence along the Coast and engage local communities.
The Kwale visit followed earlier gatherings in Mombasa and Taita Taveta. A wider campaign across all 47 counties has been presented as part of its national mobilisation plan.
A Wider Political Push
The rally was held as political activity gathered pace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Linda Mwananchi has been seeking to build local networks beyond Nairobi. Its leaders have indicated that county-level organisation will be prioritised before discussions with other opposition figures on a possible joint strategy.
The movement's return to large public gatherings also came after a period without a major county mobilisation exercise.
Parallel ODM Rally in Nairobi
The Kwale tour was held on the same day as an ODM rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Embakasi East, Nairobi.
The venue had hosted a major gathering by Sifuna and his allies weeks earlier. The two events placed competing political activities in the spotlight, as divisions within ODM continued to draw attention.
Those divisions have deepened following the death of former party leader Raila Odinga and disagreements over the party’s political direction. The parallel rallies also highlighted the competition for grassroots support in the capital and beyond.
The Road to 2027
Linda Mwananchi has been seeking to establish a national network before entering broader discussions with opposition leaders.
Its organisers face the task of building support across different counties while navigating shifting political alliances. The movement’s ability to turn public rallies into lasting local structures will be an important test.
For Sifuna, the rainy moment in Kwale offered a simple message about standing alongside supporters. Whether that message can translate into wider political backing will be tested as the movement continues its county tours.
