The Linda Mwananchi Manifesto
Meta Description: Our vision, our demands, our commitment. Read the manifesto of the Linda Mwananchi movement – a call for constitutionalism, economic justice, and the soul of ODM.
Preamble: Our Covenant with the People
We, the Linda Mwananchi movement, stand on the firm ground of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. That Constitution is not a mere document; it is the covenant that binds us as a nation. Its preamble speaks of the aspirations of all Kenyans for a just, free, and democratic society.
Our manifesto is not a list of infrastructure projects or campaign promises. It is a commitment to the software of governance: transparency, accountability, the rule of law, human rights, democracy, and social justice. We believe that when these principles are upheld, the hardware of development will follow. But without them, no amount of tarmac or steel can build a nation we can all be proud of.
Below are the pillars of our movement.
1. The Constitutional Covenant
Our Promise: We will defend the 2010 Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
We reject any attempt to undermine the Constitution – whether through executive overreach, parliamentary cowardice, or judicial intimidation. We hold that the constitutional promise of devolution, independent institutions, and a robust Bill of Rights must be realized, not merely recited.
Our Actions:
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We will use every legal and political avenue to challenge unconstitutional acts.
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We will educate citizens on their rights and how to demand accountability.
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We will resist any push to reopen or weaken the Constitution for partisan gain.
2. The 10‑Point Agenda – Full Implementation Now
Our Demand: The March 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between President Ruto and Raila Odinga contained a 10‑point agenda meant to address pressing national issues. To date, those promises remain largely unfulfilled.
The agenda includes:
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Compensation for families of those killed during the 2024 protests.
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Resolution of the education crisis, including school capitation.
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A fully functional Social Health Authority (SHA).
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Concrete steps to lower the cost of living.
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And more.
Our Position: We are not opposed to dialogue. But we are opposed to agreements that are signed and then forgotten. We demand that the government honor its side of the bargain. The broad‑based government was justified by this agenda; without delivery, it has no legitimacy.
Our Actions:
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We have filed petitions in Parliament and the courts to compel implementation.
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We hold public forums to document the suffering caused by delayed action.
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We will present the people’s demands directly to the Presidency and the opposition leadership.
3. Protecting the Soul of ODM
Our Belief: The Orange Democratic Movement was founded on the ideals of democracy, social justice, and the empowerment of ordinary Kenyans. It was never meant to be absorbed into a government that tramples on those values.
We reject the “broad‑based government” arrangement that has reduced ODM to a junior partner in a coalition that silences opposition. We refuse to allow the party’s identity to be sold for ministerial positions or personal ambition.
Our Actions:
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We are holding a People’s National Delegates Convention on March 27, 2026 – a democratic alternative to the illegal NDC called by the faction that sold out.
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We will continue to speak out against any attempt to merge ODM with UDA or to turn the party into a rubber‑stamp for government policies.
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We call on all true ODM members to join us in rescuing the party from those who would destroy its soul.
4. Economic Justice for Youth and Workers
Our Commitment: The economy must work for every Kenyan, not just a connected few.
We stand against the crushing taxes that have made it impossible for small businesses – from boda boda riders to mama mbogas – to survive. We demand an end to forced evictions, unpaid wages, and the exploitation of workers in sectors like sugar, agriculture, and manufacturing.
We know that unemployment is the mother of many of our nation’s ills. When young people are left without hope, they become easy recruits for violence and despair. We demand a national jobs strategy that prioritizes youth employment, vocational training, and support for local entrepreneurs.
Our Actions:
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We have organized solidarity visits with exploited workers, including sugar mill employees in the Nyanza belt.
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We are challenging punitive tax measures through petitions and public campaigns.
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We advocate for a national minimum wage and strict enforcement of labour laws.
5. Decency and Accountability in Leadership
Our Demand: Leadership is a sacred trust, not a license to insult, belittle, or threaten.
We have witnessed a disturbing erosion of decorum in public discourse. Insults, hate speech, and “verbal diarrhoea” have become routine. When the President himself engages in body shaming and divisive language, it sets a dangerous precedent. A nation cannot be governed by chaos.
Our Position: We demand that all leaders – regardless of party – be held to the highest ethical standards. Those who violate the law, including the laws against hate speech, must face consequences. Silence in the face of such behavior is complicity.
Our Actions:
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We have issued public statements condemning hate speech and incitement.
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We call for parliamentary censure of leaders who breach ethical codes.
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We are building a coalition of civil society, religious leaders, and citizens to demand a new culture of respect in public life.
6. Internal Party Democracy – The Foundation of National Democracy
Our Belief: If we want a democratic Kenya, we must first have democratic parties.
The crisis in ODM is not an isolated event. It reflects a broader malaise in Kenyan politics: the tendency to treat parties as personal property rather than institutions for public participation. We reject that.
Our Actions:
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Our parallel NDC is a demonstration of how party democracy should work: open, transparent, and accountable to members.
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We advocate for constitutional reforms within ODM to ensure that no small cabal can override the will of the grassroots.
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We support similar reforms in all political parties to strengthen democracy from the ground up.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The Linda Mwananchi manifesto is not a static document. It grows with the movement and with the needs of the people. But its core remains unchanged: we are for the citizen.
We do not claim to have all the answers. But we are committed to asking the right questions, holding power accountable, and never, ever staying silent in the face of injustice.
Join us. Read the manifesto. Sign the petition. Come to the rallies. Wear the shirt. And when anyone asks why you stand with us, tell them:
Sisi ndio Sifuna.
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