Former Roots Party of Kenya deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae has declared her intention to run for president in the 2027 General Election on an Imarisha Uchumi Party ticket, pledging to rally like-minded leaders around an economic reform agenda.
Wamae, who deputised Professor George Wajackoyah in the 2022 presidential election, says her campaign will focus on improving the livelihoods of Kenyans through economic policies and reforms aimed at addressing concerns affecting households.
The Imarisha Uchumi Party leader has also indicated that she is open to working with other leaders opposed to the current administration, saying any political alliance should be based on shared policies and a common vision for the country.
She maintains that political partnerships should go beyond the pursuit of power and instead offer clear solutions to the economic challenges facing Kenyans.
Wamae’s declaration comes as political leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with potential alliances and party formations expected to shape the contest for the presidency and other elective positions.
Among the issues she has highlighted is the government’s affordable housing programme, particularly the handling of contributions made by Kenyans enrolled in the scheme.
Wamae has called for reforms that would allow contributors who no longer wish to pursue home ownership through the programme to receive refunds of their contributions.
She proposes that any interest payable on the refunded amounts should be determined in consultation with the Central Bank of Kenya and the National Treasury.
Her position places the management of housing contributions among the policy issues she intends to raise as she seeks support for her presidential bid. The proposal would require consideration of the applicable legal and administrative framework governing the programme.
On electoral transparency, Wamae has criticised the failure to livestream election processes, arguing that making proceedings publicly accessible would strengthen accountability and increase confidence in electoral outcomes.
She says Kenyans should be able to follow election processes and understand how results are arrived at, maintaining that transparency would help both winners and losers accept the outcome of an election.
Wamae’s call for livestreaming comes amid continued debate over the credibility, openness and management of electoral processes in Kenya. Her proposal suggests that greater public visibility of election procedures should form part of efforts to build trust in the electoral system.
The former deputy presidential candidate is seeking to build her political profile through the Imarisha Uchumi Party as she prepares for the 2027 race.
Her entry into the presidential contest adds to the list of political figures expected to seek the country’s top office, with economic management, the cost of living, public accountability and electoral reforms likely to feature in the campaigns.
