Edwin Sifuna has shut down talk of joining President William Ruto’s administration as deputy, saying he would rather remain in his current position than serve as number two to a leader he does not believe in.
The Nairobi senator said his political ambitions were not about securing powerful positions but about changing Kenya, restoring constitutional rule and ensuring that the rule of law is respected.
“I have heard some other leaders here in Western saying that if they are given the position of number two, they are okay with it. Number two to whom? Number two to what kind of person?” Sifuna said.
“And others are daydreaming, thinking that Sifuna can be number two to a person like this? I would rather stay where I am,” Sifuna stated while ruling out teaming up with Ruto.
Sifuna spoke on Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Lurende village, Khachonge, Kabuchai Constituency, during the burial of the mother of Senator Consolata Wakwabubi.
He said leaders should not view political office as the main goal, arguing that the priority should be delivering change for Kenyans.
“We are not looking for leadership positions; we are looking to transform this country of ours,” he said.
The senator said he wants Kenya to return to the six core values contained in the Constitution and restore respect for the rule of law.
He also took issue with what he termed a “mambo ni matatu” style of running government, questioning how leaders can make major decisions affecting businesses and investors without following the required process.
Sifuna cited the dispute involving an investor and the government, arguing that such disagreements should be settled in court rather than through direct orders.
“Right now, if there is a dispute between an investor and the government, it should be resolved in our courts. You cannot just stand up and say, ‘Pack and go.’ As who?” he said.
He warned that actions creating uncertainty around investments could affect young people who depend on businesses to create employment.
“Our youth need to understand that job creation depends on investors having confidence in the nation knowing that they can invest their money here without it being confiscated,” Sifuna said.
The Nairobi senator also revisited Kenya’s political past, taking aim at the era of former President Daniel arap Moi and the Kenya African National Union (KANU).
“That’s why I said, sometimes he goes to sleep and dreams, thinking he is Moi. Look, we closed the chapter on Moi a long time ago. We closed the chapter on KANU a long time ago,” he said.
His comments come as political activity builds ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Sifuna increasingly being mentioned alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in discussions around the opposition.
Democracy for the Citizens Party Secretary for Planning and Economic Affairs Peter Mbae recently said Ruto had played a role in raising the political standing of both Gachagua and Sifuna.
“It is Ruto who has made Gachagua. It is Ruto who is making Sifuna,” Mbae said.
Mbae said a possible political partnership between Gachagua and Sifuna could reshape the 2027 contest, especially in Western Kenya, Nyanza and other parts of the country.