Trust me, I can help you grow - Bishop Wanjiru tells Sifuna

Former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru has described Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as a potential national leader, saying he needs mature and sincere people around him to guide his political growth.

Wanjiru said Sifuna, whom she described as her son and friend, can perform well in leadership if he receives the right support.

“Edwin has a great calling. Edwin can do very well as a leader. But Edwin needs somebody mature to hold his hand. And he needs somebody who will not do what I call deception. Somebody who will not deceive him,” Wanjiru said on Tuesday during an interview at Radio Generation.

She said Sifuna needs people who are sincere with him and genuinely interested in seeing him grow.

Wanjiru recalled their political relationship during the formation of the Kenya Moja Movement, saying Sifuna was then the party leader and regularly briefed her on meetings and other political activities.

She said disagreements emerged after she opposed efforts by some politicians to take control of the entire party, arguing that political leaders should instead work together.

“Somebody who will be sincere with him and somebody who desires to see him grow. I wish Edwin would trust me. We would get somewhere,” she said.

“It is this very Kenya Moja movement political party we are talking about. How the disconnect came, it's because I said, "No, you can't have the whole party; we need to partner so we move together, not take the whole party.”

She said she had previously mentored young politicians who went on to become MCAs and MPs, adding that Sifuna should be careful not to rely solely on his peers for political guidance.

Wanjiru also said Sifuna could consider two options in the 2027 political contest: running for president or serving as a running mate.

“And his peers are not seen beyond where they are. Some of them are too selfish to see him as their leader. He needs to be in a safe place where he is secure to grow and move on. For me, I would have wanted him to have two options. One for presidential, two for running mate,” she said.

Wanjiru said having both options would allow Sifuna and other political leaders to negotiate depending on how the political landscape develops.

She also recalled the 2022 General Election, saying she intervened at a tallying centre in Starehe amid delays in the issuance of certificates to elected candidates.

Bishop Wanjiru said she confronted the returning officer and insisted that the process be completed, eventually ensuring that Sifuna, the area MP and MCAs received their certificates.