Police on Sunday lobbed teargas at a convoy linked to a rally led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as it made its way to Narok, briefly disrupting the launch of the Linda Mwananchi mobilisation drive.
Eyewitnesses said plumes of smoke were seen rising from one section of the gathering after officers moved in. Despite the commotion, sections of the crowd remained defiant, with residents continuing to dance and chant, urging one another not to disperse.
Sifuna was accompanied by a host of opposition leaders including Babu Owino and Caleb Amisi.
The incident came as the Linda Mwananchi campaign resumed nationwide activites following a brief pause, with Narok hosting its first stop on Sunday, March 22. The campaign is scheduled to move to Nairobi on March 27 before heading to Mombasa on March 29.
Speaking ahead of the rally, Sifuna called on supporters to turn up in large numbers and register through the campaign’s digital platform.
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“We are back. On the road, online, everywhere,” he said, urging backers to formally sign up and be counted as part of the movement.
The campaign’s relaunch follows the introduction of an online fundraising and mobilisation platform that allows supporters to contribute from as little as Sh10 while signing up for activities.
According to Sifuna, the platform attracted thousands of users shortly after going live, signalling strong public interest. However, he noted that it also encountered technical challenges, including suspected malicious attacks, forcing the team to temporarily take it offline.
“We have taken the site offline to address the issues and incorporate feedback,” he said.
The Linda Mwananchi initiative combines grassroots mobilisation through physical rallies with digital participation, allowing supporters to share ideas and contribute to planning future engagements.
The campaign has also sparked debate within ODM, where Sifuna has been among leaders expressing concern over the party’s cooperation with the broad-based government arrangement.
He has maintained that the initiative is aimed at strengthening direct citizen engagement and will be instrumental in gauging grassroots support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
