Edwin Sifuna opens up on his viral Bungoma house and modest lifestyle
By Steve Ireri, July 29, 2026Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has opened up about his viral village house in Bungoma County and revealed the rare occasions when he uses the property.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Sifuna clapped back at politicians who mocked the house, saying he is simply not attracted to flashy lifestyles and grand structures.
“I built that house in 2015, and on average I spent a maximum of two weeks out of a year when I take my daughter home for Christmas,” Sifuna said.
The senator explained that his limited use of the house is largely connected to his visits to the village, particularly during the Christmas holiday, rather than a need to maintain a large and extravagant rural residence.
Sifuna also questioned why his Bungoma home has attracted so much attention, suggesting that those discussing it may have been unable to find other stories about him.
“And the fact that it is that house people are discussing means that they have looked for a story to no avail, and our focus is to remain focused to make sure we succeed in the next election,” he said.
Sifuna then said some people have a different outlook on life and are not necessarily interested in showing wealth through elaborate homes or other flashy displays.
“Some of us are built very differently. We are not attracted to flashy things and grandiosity,” he said.
He added that the fact that a politician holds a senior position does not automatically mean that they must own a particular type of house or live an extravagant lifestyle.
“You see, I see some people saying, oh, because you are so-and-so, you are supposed to have this and this. It is possible to be modest,” Sifuna said.
The senator also brought up the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga while defending his preference for a modest rural home, pointing to the type of house associated with Odinga’s rural roots.
“I remember Raila’s home in Opoda. Is it a grand structure? It is just a house, a house in the village,” Sifuna said.
He also compared his own home to Odinga’s residence in Karen, Nairobi, arguing that even the latter is not necessarily an extravagant structure by modern standards.
“Even his house here in Karen, it is a very standard house by the current standards. I have seen people building monstrosities there, wall to wall,” he said.
Sifuna said the debate ultimately comes down to individual preferences, with some people choosing to invest in large and elaborate homes while others are comfortable with simpler structures.
“You know it just depends on who you are and the things you fancy. Some of us are okay and we are not attracted to this grandiosity,” he said.
The house, located in Siaka Village, West Sang’alo Ward, within Kanduyi Constituency in Bungoma County, recently became a subject of public discussion after political rivals and social media users questioned why a senior politician had not built a more elaborate rural mansion.