SIFUNA IS BRILLIANT, BUT THE PRESIDENCY IS A DIFFERENT LEAGUE

By Fred Allan Nyankuru 

There is a saying in football that every good striker is not automatically a good coach. Likewise, in politics, every brilliant politician is not automatically presidential.

I recently Edwin Sifuna's interview on Citizen TV with genuine interest. I wanted to hear not just the fiery senator we have grown accustomed to, but a man who could convince Kenyans that he possesses the depth, judgement and temperament required to lead our nation. By the time the interview ended, I walked away with one conclusion: Sifuna is a gifted politician, but he has not yet convinced me that he is ready for State House.

Let me be clear. This is not a personal attack. In fact, I have consistently admired Sifuna's confidence, courage and ability to articulate himself. Few politicians in Kenya can match his command of language or his quick wit. He has mastered the art of political combat. If politics were a courtroom, Sifuna would be among the finest advocates.

But the presidency is not a debating contest. The presidency is where speeches end and consequences begin. That interview exposed, in my opinion, the difference between understanding politics and understanding governance.

Throughout the discussion, Sifuna came across as a man very comfortable criticising those in power. There is nothing wrong with that. Opposition exists to question government. It should challenge bad decisions and hold leaders accountable. But every Kenyan who aspires to become President must eventually graduate from asking difficult questions to providing difficult answers. That transition was missing.

Far too often, his responses sounded like those of a politician addressing a campaign rally rather than a future Head of State explaining how he would steer a country facing debt, unemployment, insecurity, healthcare challenges, food insecurity, climate pressures, regional diplomacy and a demanding global economy.

Criticism is easy. Governance is hard.

Running Kenya is not like hosting a political talk show where every answer fits neatly into a sixty-second sound bite. Every decision has ripple effects. Lower one tax and another sector suffers. Increase spending and borrowing rises. Cut borrowing and development slows. Strengthen security and questions about civil liberties emerge. Every presidential decision creates winners, losers and unintended consequences. A President must appreciate these realities. Unfortunately, I did not hear enough evidence that Sifuna has fully internalised that complexity.

One thing also became clear to me. Sifuna's greatest strength remains communication. He is eloquent. He is confident. He can hold an audience. He thinks quickly and responds sharply under pressure.

But Kenyans have been fooled before by polished speeches. Our history has taught us that eloquence is not the same as executive competence. A good speech can inspire a nation for an hour. Good governance improves lives for generations.

There is a reason why successful presidents across the world are remembered less for what they said and more for what they built, the institutions they strengthened, the crises they navigated and the difficult decisions they had the courage to make.

The presidency demands patience, restraint, strategic thinking and a thorough understanding of how government actually functions. It requires someone who can bring together economists, security experts, diplomats, governors, business leaders and civil servants, listen to conflicting advice and still make the right decision under immense pressure. That responsibility cannot be carried on charisma alone. 

Kenyan politics has a habit of confusing popularity with preparedness. We fall in love with good speakers. We cheer the politicians who deliver the sharpest one-liners. We celebrate those who trend on social media after television interviews.

Then reality knocks. The economy does not respond to applause. Investors do not make decisions based on clever political punches. Markets do not rise because a politician won an argument on television. Governance is a serious business.

To be fair to Sifuna, I do not believe he lacks potential. On the contrary, I think he has the intelligence and the political instincts to become an even greater national leader. Age is on his side. Experience is something that cannot be borrowed; it must be earned. If he continues to broaden his understanding of governance, policy and statecraft, his future could still be very bright.

However, if he is to harbour presidential ambitions, he must move beyond being known as an excellent opposition politician. He must begin demonstrating mastery of governance itself. Kenyans need to hear not only what he opposes but also what he would build. They need detailed solutions, not just passionate criticism. They need evidence that he understands the weight of executive responsibility, not merely the excitement of political contestation.

William Ruto, whatever one's political persuasion, did not arrive at the presidency by simply being a good speaker. He spent decades building political networks, navigating government, mastering electoral strategy and understanding the machinery of the state. Raila Odinga became a national political force not merely because he spoke well, but because he painstakingly built structures and sustained a movement across the country for decades.

The presidency is won long before election day. It is earned through years of building trust, demonstrating competence and convincing citizens that you can carry the hopes of an entire nation.

That is why, after watching the Citizen TV interview, I remain unconvinced that Edwin Sifuna is ready for Kenya's highest office. He is undoubtedly one of our brightest political talents. He may even become one of Kenya's finest leaders in the future. But today, I still see an exceptional politician learning the demanding art of statesmanship. And in Kenyan politics, there is a world of difference between the two.

As we say in Kenya, kizuri chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza. Time will ultimately reveal whether Edwin Sifuna grows into the statesman many of his supporters believe he can become. For now, however, the journey from an eloquent politician to a credible presidential candidate remains unfinished.