President William Ruto has increasingly portrayed retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as the hidden force behind the emerging Linda Mwananchi movement and sections of the opposition. But while the allegation has become a recurring feature of the 2027 political conversation, the public evidence currently available does not establish that Uhuru is financing or directing the movement.
What is clear is that the relationship between Ruto and Uhuru has once again become part of Kenya's political conversation.
During his recent tour of Nyanza, Ruto directly accused Uhuru of using politicians associated with Linda Mwananchi to challenge his administration. He questioned whether Uhuru, having failed to defeat him while serving as president, could now do so after leaving office. Ruto also described some leaders associated with the movement as people being used by a retired politician.
The remarks have opened a bigger question: Is Linda Mwananchi genuinely an independent political movement, or is there an older political hand operating behind the scenes?
The allegation
Ruto's argument appears to be based partly on the political networks surrounding Linda Mwananchi and the people now working together within the opposition.
The movement has brought together prominent figures including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. It has also been holding consultations with other opposition leaders as discussions about a broader political coalition gather momentum.
For Ruto, this activity appears to fit into a wider political contest involving former allies and former opponents.
But an important distinction needs to be made.
Political association is not the same as political control.
Ruto may believe Uhuru is influencing the opposition, but the claim that Uhuru is financing or directing Linda Mwananchi requires evidence beyond the presence of politicians who have previously worked with or around him.
What does Linda Mwananchi say?
There is evidence that the movement has developed its own structures and political ambitions.
Caroli Omondi, the movement's spokesperson, recently said Linda Mwananchi intends to nominate Sifuna as its presidential candidate before entering negotiations with other opposition formations over a possible broader coalition.
That suggests a movement attempting to establish its own political identity rather than simply operating as an extension of another politician.
More importantly, Caleb Amisi, who was previously involved with Linda Mwananchi, has publicly defended Uhuru against the allegations. He said that during his time in the movement he did not see Uhuru's involvement and described the movement as relying on contributions from its own members before the introduction of its paybill.
That does not conclusively prove Uhuru has no involvement. But it does demonstrate why the sponsorship allegation should not automatically be treated as established fact.
And then there is Uhuru
Interestingly, Uhuru has not responded to the "sponsor" accusations in the conventional political manner.
Instead, he recently appeared to embrace the nickname "Sponyo" Sheng for sponsor during a burial ceremony, turning a political attack into a moment of humour.
That response is politically interesting because it neither provides evidence that he is sponsoring Linda Mwananchi nor settles the question of whether he is involved behind the scenes.
It simply shows that Uhuru is willing to engage with the label on his own terms.
Why does Uhuru remain relevant?
The bigger issue is that former presidents rarely disappear completely from political calculations.
Uhuru remains an important figure because of his two terms in State House, his networks across the country and his history with many of the political actors now positioning themselves against Ruto.
The current opposition activity also involves politicians with different political histories and ambitions. Linda Mwananchi leaders have met with Fred Matiang'i, Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition figures as efforts to build a united political front continue.
But this creates another complication for the "Uhuru is behind everything" argument.
If the opposition is bringing together Sifuna, Orengo, Babu Owino, Matiang'i, Kalonzo and others, then it is difficult to reduce the entire movement to one former president without overlooking the independent ambitions of the politicians involved.
Linda Mwananchi has problems of its own
There is also evidence of internal disagreements within the movement.
Reports have highlighted tensions between Sifuna and Babu Owino, as well as disagreements over the political vehicle that Linda Mwananchi should use going into 2027.
Those disagreements are significant.
A movement supposedly controlled by one political sponsor would presumably have a much clearer chain of command. Instead, Linda Mwananchi is already dealing with competing personalities, political ambitions and questions about its eventual presidential candidate.
That does not rule out outside influence. It simply means the movement appears to have its own internal political dynamics.
So, is Uhuru behind Linda Mwananchi?
Based on the public evidence available today, that has not been established.
There are accusations from President Ruto and political figures who associate Uhuru with the opposition. There are also political relationships and networks that make the question legitimate.
But there is currently a difference between “Uhuru is politically influential” and “Uhuru is sponsoring and directing Linda Mwananchi.”
The first is a reasonable subject for political analysis. The second requires concrete evidence.
And perhaps that is the real story emerging as Kenya approaches 2027.
Ruto is increasingly framing the political contest not simply as a battle between his administration and a new generation of opposition politicians, but as part of a longer political struggle involving figures from the previous administration.
The opposition, meanwhile, is trying to build a new coalition while dealing with its own leadership and ideological questions.
Whether Uhuru is actually pulling strings behind Linda Mwananchi will ultimately depend on evidence , funding records, documented instructions, organisational links or direct statements from the people involved , rather than political suspicion alone.
For now, the accusation is firmly in Kenya's political debate, but the evidence required to turn the accusation into an established fact has not publicly emerged.
And that distinction will become increasingly important as the 2027 political contest intensifies.
What is clear is that the relationship between Ruto and Uhuru has once again become part of Kenya's political conversation.
During his recent tour of Nyanza, Ruto directly accused Uhuru of using politicians associated with Linda Mwananchi to challenge his administration. He questioned whether Uhuru, having failed to defeat him while serving as president, could now do so after leaving office. Ruto also described some leaders associated with the movement as people being used by a retired politician.
The remarks have opened a bigger question: Is Linda Mwananchi genuinely an independent political movement, or is there an older political hand operating behind the scenes?
The allegation
Ruto's argument appears to be based partly on the political networks surrounding Linda Mwananchi and the people now working together within the opposition.
The movement has brought together prominent figures including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. It has also been holding consultations with other opposition leaders as discussions about a broader political coalition gather momentum.
For Ruto, this activity appears to fit into a wider political contest involving former allies and former opponents.
But an important distinction needs to be made.
Political association is not the same as political control.
Ruto may believe Uhuru is influencing the opposition, but the claim that Uhuru is financing or directing Linda Mwananchi requires evidence beyond the presence of politicians who have previously worked with or around him.
What does Linda Mwananchi say?
There is evidence that the movement has developed its own structures and political ambitions.
Caroli Omondi, the movement's spokesperson, recently said Linda Mwananchi intends to nominate Sifuna as its presidential candidate before entering negotiations with other opposition formations over a possible broader coalition.
That suggests a movement attempting to establish its own political identity rather than simply operating as an extension of another politician.
More importantly, Caleb Amisi, who was previously involved with Linda Mwananchi, has publicly defended Uhuru against the allegations. He said that during his time in the movement he did not see Uhuru's involvement and described the movement as relying on contributions from its own members before the introduction of its paybill.
That does not conclusively prove Uhuru has no involvement. But it does demonstrate why the sponsorship allegation should not automatically be treated as established fact.
And then there is Uhuru
Interestingly, Uhuru has not responded to the "sponsor" accusations in the conventional political manner.
Instead, he recently appeared to embrace the nickname "Sponyo" Sheng for sponsor during a burial ceremony, turning a political attack into a moment of humour.
That response is politically interesting because it neither provides evidence that he is sponsoring Linda Mwananchi nor settles the question of whether he is involved behind the scenes.
It simply shows that Uhuru is willing to engage with the label on his own terms.
Why does Uhuru remain relevant?
The bigger issue is that former presidents rarely disappear completely from political calculations.
Uhuru remains an important figure because of his two terms in State House, his networks across the country and his history with many of the political actors now positioning themselves against Ruto.
The current opposition activity also involves politicians with different political histories and ambitions. Linda Mwananchi leaders have met with Fred Matiang'i, Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition figures as efforts to build a united political front continue.
But this creates another complication for the "Uhuru is behind everything" argument.
If the opposition is bringing together Sifuna, Orengo, Babu Owino, Matiang'i, Kalonzo and others, then it is difficult to reduce the entire movement to one former president without overlooking the independent ambitions of the politicians involved.
Linda Mwananchi has problems of its own
There is also evidence of internal disagreements within the movement.
Reports have highlighted tensions between Sifuna and Babu Owino, as well as disagreements over the political vehicle that Linda Mwananchi should use going into 2027.
Those disagreements are significant.
A movement supposedly controlled by one political sponsor would presumably have a much clearer chain of command. Instead, Linda Mwananchi is already dealing with competing personalities, political ambitions and questions about its eventual presidential candidate.
That does not rule out outside influence. It simply means the movement appears to have its own internal political dynamics.
So, is Uhuru behind Linda Mwananchi?
Based on the public evidence available today, that has not been established.
There are accusations from President Ruto and political figures who associate Uhuru with the opposition. There are also political relationships and networks that make the question legitimate.
But there is currently a difference between “Uhuru is politically influential” and “Uhuru is sponsoring and directing Linda Mwananchi.”
The first is a reasonable subject for political analysis. The second requires concrete evidence.
And perhaps that is the real story emerging as Kenya approaches 2027.
Ruto is increasingly framing the political contest not simply as a battle between his administration and a new generation of opposition politicians, but as part of a longer political struggle involving figures from the previous administration.
The opposition, meanwhile, is trying to build a new coalition while dealing with its own leadership and ideological questions.
Whether Uhuru is actually pulling strings behind Linda Mwananchi will ultimately depend on evidence , funding records, documented instructions, organisational links or direct statements from the people involved , rather than political suspicion alone.
For now, the accusation is firmly in Kenya's political debate, but the evidence required to turn the accusation into an established fact has not publicly emerged.
And that distinction will become increasingly important as the 2027 political contest intensifies.