Political analyst Herman Manyora has urged critics to stop targeting Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, arguing that their attacks could be strengthening the Linda Mwananchi leader politically while putting President William Ruto on the defensive.
Manyora claims that those campaigning against Sifuna are making a strategic mistake by giving him more attention, saying the senator has managed to shift the political conversation and force his opponents to respond to him.
“Do your campaigns without targeting Sifuna. You are losing greatly by targeting him,” Manyora said.
According to the analyst, Sifuna has taken the initiative in the political contest, leaving the President reacting to developments rather than controlling the narrative.
“Sifuna is setting the pace, and the president is fumbling. Sifuna has destabilised the president, making him reactionary,” he claimed.
Manyora Explains Why Attacks Could Backfire
Manyora argues that repeated criticism can sometimes benefit a politician by increasing public attention, strengthening their visibility and allowing them to position themselves as a target of their opponents.
In Sifuna’s case, the analyst believes that efforts to undermine the senator may instead be helping him remain at the centre of political debate.
His remarks suggest that political opponents should focus on presenting their own agendas rather than making Sifuna the main subject of their campaigns.
Manyora also pointed to the psychological side of political competition, arguing that provoking an opponent into reacting can give the person initiating the confrontation an advantage.
“In politics, if you can succeed in getting your opponent angry, you have won,” he claimed.
Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Political Debate
Sifuna, who has emerged as a prominent voice in the Linda Mwananchi political movement, has attracted attention amid wider debates over the direction of Kenyan politics.
His critics and supporters continue to contest his positions, influence and role in the country’s political landscape.
Manyora’s comments add another dimension to that debate by questioning whether constant attacks are an effective political strategy or whether they give Sifuna more visibility and influence.
The analyst’s remarks, however, represent his assessment of the political situation and do not independently establish how voters view Sifuna or how the contest will develop.
A Warning to Political Campaigners
Manyora’s message to Sifuna’s opponents is straightforward: stop making him the centre of the campaign.
He argues that repeatedly targeting the senator risks allowing him to dictate the conversation while forcing his opponents to spend time responding to his moves.
Whether that strategy will translate into lasting political support remains to be seen. But Manyora’s comments underline a familiar feature of political contests: sometimes, the attention directed at a rival can become an advantage for the very person being criticised.
For now, his advice to Sifuna’s critics is clear—campaign on your own agenda instead of giving your opponent more ammunition.
