When observing the actions of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, which include criticizing the government, rallying behind ODM leader Raila Odinga, and decisively defeating his political adversaries, it may appear as though this has been his lifelong calling. However, in an exclusive conversation with Willis Raburu, the prominent lawyer opened up about the arduous journey that led him to his current position as Nairobi’s senator.
Sifuna’s odyssey commenced in 2008 upon his graduation from Nairobi University with a law degree. Unfortunately, this moment of triumph coincided with the political turmoil that engulfed Kenya during the 2008 post-election violence. This period of instability had dire consequences for his employment prospects, leaving him jobless for a grueling 19 months. “Lawyers were not in demand at the time,” he lamented.
During this challenging phase, he resided in a modest bedsitter in Nairobi’s South B, accumulating six months’ worth of rent arrears. Fortunately, he had an understanding landlord. His fortunes took a turn when he secured a job as a lawyer at the bread company Supa Loaf, earning a modest salary of sh 40,000. His first paycheck was promptly used to settle his rent arrears.
His ascent continued when he landed another job at an advertising firm. “The job was a great opportunity because they treated me as a manager from day one,” Sifuna recalled. He assumed responsibility for the company’s legal affairs, enjoying a salary of sh 150,000 and even receiving a company car. With this newfound stability, he was able to upgrade to a three-bedroom house.
However, the downside to this job was the relentless pressure from his demanding boss, whom the outspoken legislator described as a ‘boss from hell.’ “He would sometimes call and wake me in the middle of the night to inform me of something that needed to be done,” he reminisced.
By 2013, Sifuna was earning a respectable monthly income of 400,000 Kenyan shillings, but the toll on his mental health had become unbearable. He made the bold decision to resign and establish his own law firm. “I set a target for myself that if I could make just 50,000 shillings per month, that would suffice,” Sifuna recounted. To his surprise, he realized he could achieve this goal in less than two weeks. “At that time, the economy was thriving. People were investing in land, Chamas (investment groups) were forming and needed legal guidance, companies were being registered, and tenders were being pursued. Business was booming,” he explained.
Now in control of his time and resources, he turned his attention towards the realm of politics. His initial foray into politics took place during his university days when he crossed paths with Raila Odinga, the prominent leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Following the 2013 elections, Sifuna paid a visit to the former prime minister’s office. “I met Baba (Raila) in his office. We shared tea, and I reintroduced myself, reminiscing about our prior encounter on campus. I expressed my belief that we should prepare for the upcoming elections,” he recounted.
During this period, Raila’s CORD alliance was undergoing restructuring, and Sifuna was invited to participate in party meetings, where he found himself in the company of seasoned political heavyweights. “Looking around the table and seeing those prominent figures sitting with me, I had to pinch myself to confirm if it was real,” he shared.
Subsequently, he decided to run for a political position in his hometown of Kakamega. However, his aspirations were thwarted when ODM denied him the party’s ticket after the nominations. Crushed and financially strained, he returned to Nairobi. Fate, however, had a different plan in store for him.
Recognizing Sifuna’s potential, ODM officials summoned him back and conveyed their belief that he could mount a formidable challenge for the Nairobi senatorial seat against their opponent, Johnson Sakaja. They pledged their support, including campaign funding, and handed him the party’s ticket.
Although Sifuna didn’t secure victory, he amassed a commendable 700,000 votes—an impressive feat for a political newcomer. Undaunted, he continued to ascend through the political ranks. In 2018, he was appointed as the ODM party Secretary-General, a pivotal role that thrust him into the spotlight.
As 2022 approached, his election campaign was more streamlined, benefitting from the experience gained in the previous election cycle in 2017.
