NAIROBI,Kenya Jul 21 – Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has publicly rejected an offer by COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli to bankroll his political ambitions, declaring that he would rather build a campaign financed by millions of ordinary Kenyans than owe his political future to a single wealthy individual.

📻 Breaking It Down

Speaking during an interview on Mulembe FM, Sifuna dismissed Atwoli’s recent pledge to raise Sh1 billion for his campaign, saying the era of politicians depending on powerful financiers must come to an end.

“Atwoli is now saying he is the one with KSh1 billion that he can give me. I don’t need your money,” Sifuna said.

His remarks were in response to comments made by the veteran trade unionist during a church fundraiser in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County, where Atwoli said anyone seeking the presidency needed enormous financial resources and influential political networks.

📌 What You Need to Know

He told Sifuna he could mobilise KSh1 billion “within a minute” and pledged to personally campaign for him should he decide to run for the country’s top seat.

Atwoli also argued that no politician could mount a successful presidential campaign through personal popularity alone.

But Sifuna insisted his political movement would be built differently, urging supporters to continue making small donations through his public Paybill account instead of relying on wealthy benefactors.

“Please let ordinary Kenyans continue contributing through our Paybill, just as they have been doing,” he said.

“We are a different generation of leaders, and we are going to do this politics differently. I would rather be indebted to 10 million Kenyans because they gave me 10 shillings each than to one person who gave me KSh1 billion.”

The senator said campaigns financed by ordinary citizens create greater accountability, arguing that leaders elected through public contributions remain answerable to the people rather than to a handful of influential financiers.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya