Sifuna: Why Is Everyone in Government So Angry?

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called on political leaders to end personal attacks and focus on policy debates, pledging that the Linda Mwananchi movement will maintain peaceful engagement despite political tensions.

Speaking during a requiem service for veteran diplomat and former Cabinet minister Burudi Nabwera at Friends Church in Lang’ata, Sifuna criticised what he described as a decline in the quality of political debate. He said leaders should respond to questions about government policies with facts and explanations rather than insults directed at their critics.

Sifuna cited the Affordable Housing Programme, one of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s flagship initiatives, as an example. He argued that questions about its implementation and financing had often been met with personal attacks instead of clear answers. He said political differences were part of a healthy democracy but warned that insults undermined meaningful public debate and confidence in democratic institutions.

The senator also backed calls for greater political civility by former National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo, who recently urged leaders to moderate their language. Sifuna said experienced statesmen had a role to play in encouraging politicians to address national issues constructively rather than engage in persistent confrontation.

He questioned the consistency of political leaders who call for unity during church services, funerals and other solemn gatherings but return to hostile exchanges at political rallies. He said the contrast raised concerns about whether some leaders were genuinely committed to peaceful coexistence.

Sifuna also assured the public that the Linda Mwananchi movement would not disrupt public gatherings. He said the group had chosen to exercise restraint and would not interfere with funerals, community meetings or other events, even when its members faced provocation.

His remarks followed controversy over the burial of Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Lazarus Opicho in Trans Nzoia County. Several politicians, including Sifuna, were not given an opportunity to address mourners after organisers limited speeches to selected leaders and senior government officials.

The decision prompted discussion among political leaders, with some opposition figures viewing the restrictions as an attempt to exclude them. Sifuna said he and his allies had chosen not to escalate the situation, despite feeling that they had been treated unfairly.

He maintained that political discipline was necessary for leaders seeking to offer credible alternatives to voters. According to the senator, movements aspiring to gain national support must demonstrate that they can engage constructively rather than rely on confrontation.

Sifuna also defended his recent engagement with Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, rejecting claims that politicians should be criticised for reaching out to regions outside their traditional support bases.

He argued that political leaders should be free to engage citizens across the country without being accused of crossing regional or political boundaries. He said national cohesion depended on moving beyond regional identities and allowing leaders to present their policies to voters in every part of Kenya.