{"id":19732,"date":"2026-10-31T05:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T05:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/?p=19732"},"modified":"2026-10-31T05:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T05:43:55","slug":"the-lavington-declaration-why-politics-is-about-passion-not-technicalities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/?p=19732","title":{"rendered":"The Lavington Declaration: Why Politics is About Passion, Not Technicalities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

\u200bBy Bob<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Political Reporter | Good Morning Kenya News<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bI was standing right in the middle of the roaring crowd in Lavington yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bIf you weren\u2019t there, it is easy to sit behind a desk, read through legal statutes, flip through political party handbooks, and deliver a cold lecture on “procedural rules.” But if you stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Linda Mwananchi<\/strong> brigade, you would know that yesterday was never just about procedural timelines or institutional paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bYesterday was about a soul-stirring resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u200bThe Long, Bitter Journey to Lavington<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u200bConsider the long, treacherous road these supporters have walked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • \u200bState Roadblocks:<\/strong> First, the movement Linda Mwananchi<\/em> was flatly blocked from registration by the authorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • \u200bJudicial Frustration:<\/strong> A pivot to UDP was met with non-stop court cases engineered by state operatives to strangle the movement before it could gain momentum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • \u200bLegal Dragnet:<\/strong> A grueling, exhausting fight at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal over the Linda Mwananchi<\/em> identity felt like an endless marathon designed to break their spirits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • \u200bRelentless Mockery:<\/strong> Through it all, the political establishment mocked them. Opponents sneered, telling the country that their leader, Edwin Sifuna, was a general without an army\u2014a politician with nowhere to go and a man without a party.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bYet, they stayed. They absorbed the humiliation. They defended Sifuna on the streets, on social media, and across every corner of Kenya when it was politically uncomfortable to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bThen came the breakthrough. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) ruled in their favor. Through The Equitable Party (TEP), the identity they bled for was officially reclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bWhen the doors to the national headquarters and campaign secretariat swung open in Lavington yesterday, it wasn’t just an office launch\u2014it was proof of survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bWhere Kalonzo Misread the Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bThen Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka took the microphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bPolitically and legally, Kalonzo\u2019s statement was technically accurate. He stood up to remind the crowd that Sifuna is not yet a formal presidential candidate because the party has not held its National Delegates Conference (NDC) to endorse him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \u200bThe reality:<\/strong> Technocrats talk procedure; people celebrate victory.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bThe crowd didn’t gather in Lavington to be lectured on party constitutions or reminded of yet another legal hurdle. They came to celebrate an impossible victory against a relentless state machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bWhen the chants of “Sifuna! Sifuna! President Sifuna!”<\/em> drowned out the podium and Kalonzo was heckled, it was not mere indiscipline. It was a visceral, emotional reaction from a people who had endured months of pain, uncertainty, and ridicule. They did not need a lecture on rulebooks\u2014they needed their pain validated and their triumph celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bPolitics is more than knowing the law; politics is knowing the heart of the people.<\/strong> And yesterday, Kalonzo completely misread the emotional temperature of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bA Leader Speaks: Sifuna’s Message to the Brigade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bAddressing the triumphant crowd, Edwin Sifuna captured the spirit of the movement far better than any constitutional rulebook ever could:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    \u200b“I thank every single Kenyan with whom we are walking this journey. Today marks another important milestone in our collective pursuit of a better Kenya. Your unwavering support, courage and belief in our vision keep us going. This journey belongs to all of us, and together, we will build the Kenya we deserve. Ahsanteni sana.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bThe New Engine: Full List of Proposed Party Leadership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u200bAs the party embarks on this historic journey, the movement has unveiled the formidable lineup proposed to pilot the ship to victory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • \u200bParty Leader:<\/strong> Edwin Sifuna<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy Party Leaders:<\/strong> Kawira Mwangaza, Patrick Makau, Faith Odhiambo (and one slot reserved for a Coast Region leader)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bNational Chairperson:<\/strong> Godfrey Osotsi<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy National Chairperson:<\/strong> Reuben Ndolo<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary-General:<\/strong> MP Caroli Omondi<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy Secretary-General:<\/strong> Pauline Njoroge<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bNational Treasurer:<\/strong> Richard Onyonka<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy National Treasurer:<\/strong> Abigael Gikonyo (Abby Zuena)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bOrganising Secretary:<\/strong> Kerry Karani<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy Organising Secretary:<\/strong> MP Wilberforce Oundo<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary, Legal Affairs:<\/strong> Wakili Francy Kadide<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bPresident, Women League:<\/strong> Caroline Kayunzu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bPresident, Youth League:<\/strong> Fridah Onduso<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bNEC Representative (Minorities):<\/strong> Torome Nalengoyo (Kaza Roho)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary for Diaspora Affairs:<\/strong> Eunice Juma<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary for International Affairs:<\/strong> Gilbert Shanga<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary, Public Policy:<\/strong> Jack Wamboka<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bSecretary for Political Affairs:<\/strong> Boni Khalwale<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bBoard of Trustees Chairperson & Head of Presidential Campaign:<\/strong> George Natembeya<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bDeputy Head of Presidential Campaign:<\/strong> Faith Odhiambo<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bChairperson, Disciplinary Committee:<\/strong> Ramadhan Abubakar<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u200bChairperson, National Elections Board:<\/strong> Barbara Malowa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bA Hearty Congratulations to the Linda Mwananchi Brigade!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bTo the Linda Mwananchi Movement<\/strong> and the entire brigade: Congratulations!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Party Headquarters unlocked, campaign secretariat launched, and the identity fully reclaimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bA very special congratulations goes to all the newly proposed leaders, with a big salute to the National Chairman Designate and incoming Vihiga Governor, Senator Godfrey Osotsi<\/strong>, whose fearless resolve and organizational genius continue to anchor this movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bYou all stood your ground when the wind was against you. You refused to yield when the state closed every door. Yesterday, Lavington stood as proof that no amount of state frustration can crush a genuine movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bEven as the ink dries on the Lavington declaration, the engine isn’t slowing down\u2014the Linda Mwananchi team is already live on the ground in Kwale County<\/strong>, taking the liberation message directly to the grassroots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u200bThe road ahead is long, but yesterday, you won.<\/strong> Wear it proudly!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u200bBy Bob. Political Reporter | Good Morning Kenya News \u200bI was standing right in the middle of the roaring crowd in Lavington yesterday. \u200bIf you weren\u2019t there, it is easy to sit behind a desk, read through legal statutes, flip through political party handbooks, and deliver a cold lecture on “procedural rules.” But if you …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":19734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19732"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19741,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19732\/revisions\/19741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodmorningkenya.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}