Our Story
Meta Description: From a senator’s self‑introduction to a national movement. Discover how “Mimi ndio Sifuna” became “Sisi ndio Sifuna” and why we are fighting to protect the citizen.
Introduction: A Slogan Becomes a Movement
Every movement has a spark. Ours began with three simple words: “Mimi ndio Sifuna.”
It was a phrase Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna often used to introduce himself – a casual, almost playful way of saying, “I am Sifuna.” But in the heat of Kenya’s political realignment, those words took on a life of their own. They became a declaration of defiance, a badge of identity for those who refused to be silenced, and eventually a collective roar: Sisi ndio Sifuna. We are Sifuna.
This is the story of how a slogan born in the corridors of the Senate became the rallying cry for a movement determined to protect the citizen, defend the soul of ODM, and hold power accountable.
The Man Behind the Words
Edwin Sifuna is a lawyer, a senator, and until recently, the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Known for his sharp wit, unyielding principles, and ability to speak truth to power, Sifuna has long been a voice for the voiceless. His trademark introduction – “Mimi ndio Sifuna” – was initially a simple identifier. But when the political landscape shifted, it became a symbol.
In 2025, following the Memorandum of Understanding between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ODM entered a broad‑based government with Kenya Kwanza. For many in the party, this was a betrayal of ODM’s role as the official opposition. Sifuna, along with Governor James Orengo and MP Babu Owino, refused to go along quietly.
The Ouster That Backfired
On February 13, 2026, the ODM National Executive Committee (NEC), controlled by the faction supporting the broad‑based government, voted to remove Sifuna as Secretary General. The official reason was “insubordination.” The real reason: he had dared to speak for the grassroots who felt abandoned.
The reaction was immediate and explosive. Within hours, the hashtag #SisiNdioSifuna was trending across Kenya. Supporters – from boda boda riders to university students – flooded social media with messages of solidarity. A group of young women famously known as the “TikTok baddies” made a surprise visit to Sifuna’s office, chanting the slogan and posing for photos that went viral overnight.
The ouster, intended to silence him, instead amplified his voice. “Sisi ndio Sifuna” became shorthand for: If you silence one of us, you answer to all of us.
The Birth of Linda Mwananchi
With Sifuna’s removal, the faction that stood with him – now calling itself Linda Mwananchi (Protect the Citizen) – began organizing public rallies. The first major gathering in Kitengela drew thousands. Soon, they were touring the country, from Nairobi to Kisumu to Mombasa.
At each rally, the message was consistent:
Uphold the 2010 Constitution.
Demand the full implementation of the 10‑point agenda agreed upon in the March 2025 MoU.
Reject the broad‑based government that has turned ODM into a junior partner.
Fight for economic justice: lower taxes, jobs for the youth, and an end to exploitation.
What began as a fight to keep one man in a party position had grown into a national movement for accountability and democratic renewal.
The People’s NDC – Democracy in Action
As the rift in ODM widened, the faction allied with Kenya Kwanza called a National Delegates Convention (NDC) for March 27, 2026. Linda Mwananchi leaders condemned it as illegal, arguing that it was being held without proper adherence to the party constitution.
In response, they announced a parallel People’s NDC – a convention open to all party members who believe ODM must remain independent and true to its founding ideals. “We are not splitting the party,” Governor Orengo declared. “We are rescuing it.”
The People’s NDC has become the movement’s most concrete act of defiance. It is a statement that democracy cannot be stage‑managed, and that the voice of the ordinary member matters more than the whims of a few leaders.
The Movement Today
Today, Sisi ndio Sifuna is more than a slogan. It is a community. It is a promise. We are Kenyans from every walk of life – students, farmers, traders, professionals – united by a simple belief: that the country belongs to its citizens, not to a ruling elite.
We are present in the streets, in Parliament, on social media, and in the hearts of those who refuse to accept injustice as normal.
Join Our Story
The story of Linda Mwananchi is still being written. The next chapter will be shaped by you. Stand with us. Add your voice. Because when we say Sisi ndio Sifuna, we mean it: We are all part of this fight.
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