Speaking during an interview on the Upfront Podcast aired on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Amisi suggested that the Edwin Sifuna may be acting out of caution due to the unpredictable nature of Kenyan political support.
The outspoken legislator said Kenyan voters often rally behind leaders enthusiastically before later abandoning them.
“Maybe people are pushing Sifuna to a corner that he doesn’t want, probably, and that’s why he’s saying, ‘Unless I’m guaranteed with this one,’” Amisi said.
Amisi pointed to past examples where public excitement around potential presidential candidates quickly faded.
He cited former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who was widely endorsed by Gen Z protesters during the 2024 demonstrations as a potential presidential candidate.
According to Amisi, the excitement around Matiang’i pushed him to resign from his role at the World Bank and return to Kenya, only for public attention to later shift elsewhere.
He also mentioned former Chief Justice David Maraga, who was similarly praised by sections of the public as a strong presidential candidate before the enthusiasm faded.
Amisi suggested that Sifuna’s demand for concrete numbers of supporters may be an attempt to avoid a similar situation.
Despite understanding Sifuna’s concerns, Amisi warned that political leaders should avoid issuing ultimatums to the public.
According to him, such statements could frustrate supporters and push them to seek alternative leaders.
“You cannot come and tell people that until they do this, then you will vie. They might get fed up and tell you to go to hell. We have 50 million Kenyans; you cannot give conditions for you to run,” Amisi said.
He added that he intends to speak to Sifuna privately and advise him on how to communicate his ambitions more carefully.
Amisi described the Linda Mwananchi movement as a broader political renewal effort aimed at reforming the country’s leadership.
“This is the liberation of our country. That’s why we call it a renaissance moment. It is a rebirth and renewal of the nation,” he said.
Sifuna recently said Kenyans must demonstrate serious support before he decides whether to run for president in the 2027 elections.
He urged supporters to register on the Linda Mwananchi platform and ensure they are registered voters.
According to Sifuna, the move would help confirm that those pushing him to run are genuine supporters who are willing to vote.
“Kabla mnichoche, lazima nione takwimu. Tunataka tufanye census ya watu ambao wanajiita Sifuna, tujue tuko wangapi, na mdhibitishe kwamba nyinyi ni wapiga kura na mtajitokeza kupiga kura kwa hiari yenu,” he said.
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