Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo on Sunday led the Linda Mwananchi movement through Nairobi ahead of a major political rally that was set for Jacaranda Grounds.

The opposition leaders began their programme with a church service at All Saints Cathedral before embarking on a procession through parts of the capital, marking the movement’s much-anticipated entry into Nairobi.

The caravan made several stops as it headed towards Embakasi East, with the planned route taking the leaders through Marikiti, Gikomba, Burma Market, Jogoo Road and Manyanja Road before culminating at Jacaranda Grounds.

At Marikiti Market, Sifuna thanked Nairobi residents for backing his political journey, saying their support had elevated him onto the national stage.

“Nairobians, I want to start by thanking you for your votes and giving the mandate to represent you at the senate,” Sifuna told supporters.

He said his election as Nairobi senator had given him a platform to build a national political profile, as the Linda Mwananchi movement seeks to position itself as a major force ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Nairobi rally comes after nearly three weeks of heightened mobilization by the movement, with its leaders repeatedly presenting the capital as a crucial stop in their campaign to reshape opposition politics.

The movement brings together several politicians who have taken increasingly critical positions against President William Ruto’s administration while pushing for greater unity among opposition forces ahead of 2027.

Reports had earlier suggested that an ODM faction aligned with party leader Oburu Oginga could hold a separate political meeting in Nairobi on the same day, raising the prospect of rival gatherings.

ODM’s Nairobi leadership, however, dismissed reports of a parallel rally, with Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa saying the party had no plans for a competing meeting and welcoming the Linda Mwananchi team to hold its event.

Security was meanwhile heightened across parts of Nairobi ahead of the rally, with police deployed around All Saints Cathedral and along sections of the movement’s planned route.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud had on Saturday warned that large political rallies would not be allowed within the Central Business District, saying authorities wanted to protect businesses, residents and other users of the city centre.

“Large political rallies will not be permitted. We will not allow them to disrupt the normal function of the CBD,” Mohamud said.

Police said they had received notification of the Jacaranda rally and would facilitate lawful political activity, but warned organizers against allowing supporters to engage in confrontations.

Mohamud said security agencies had received intelligence that some people could mobilize groups to disrupt the event.

“No political objective is worth the blood of a Kenyan,” he said while calling on political leaders to restrain their supporters.

Attention now shifts to Jacaranda Grounds, where Linda Mwananchi leaders are expected to use the Nairobi rally to outline their political message as opposition maneuvering intensifies ahead of the 2027 election.

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