Miguna announces 2027 presidential bid

Lawyer Miguna Miguna/FILE

Senior lawyer Miguna Miguna has declared that he will contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election.

The former Nairobi Governor aspirant made the announcement during a live interview on TV47 on Wednesday night.

Miguna said his decision is anchored on what he described as a transformative and people-centred agenda.

“I am going to vie for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya in 2027, and I am going to do it on a transformative vision,” he said.

“A vision that identifies the interest of the people of Kenya as the core and the foundation of moving the country forward.”

He added that his agenda would be guided by values that depart from current governance approaches.

“It is a vision that is built on integrity and is built on socialism, not capitalism,” Miguna stated.

However, Miguna's quest may face headwinds that is if he still  holds dual citizenship for Kenya and Canada as Constitution of Kenya 2010 states that a person with dual citizenship cannot run for President in Kenya, as the law requires the President to be a Kenyan citizen by birth and explicitly prohibits holding allegiance to a foreign state, with strict exceptions for certain state officers or acquiring citizenship automatically by law (not choice).

While dual citizenship is allowed for others, presidential candidates must be citizens by birth and meet strict leadership integrity, barring most dual nationals from the top seat, though court cases have discussed nuances around "allegiance" and automatic citizenship acquisition.

Key Constitutional Provisions: Article 137 (Presidential Qualifications): Requires the President to be a citizen by birth and qualified to be a Member of Parliament, but also disqualifies those who owe allegiance to a foreign state.

Article 78 (Citizenship & Leadership): States that a State Officer cannot hold dual citizenship, with exceptions for judges, commission members, or those whose foreign citizenship was acquired automatically (without the ability to opt out).

Miguna is the latest figure to declare his 2027 presidential ambitions.

His declaration intensifies an increasingly crowded field of aspirants, with established politicians and fresh faces positioning themselves for what promises to be a competitive race.

Other politicians who are eyeing the presidency in next year’s general elections include former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, former Chief Justice David Maraga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka among many others.

Others are Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, PLP leader Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa and Boniface Mwangi.

Matiang’i was endorsed as the Jubilee Party’s presidential candidate, with a recent poll even placing him ahead of several seasoned politicians, showing him outperforming some rivals in key regions.

They will be contesting against President William Ruto, who has signalled his intent to seek a second term.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has begun laying groundwork for the 2027 polls, with officials describing 2026 as a decisive year.

Plans include finalising voter registration and reviewing electoral procedures to ensure a credible election.

Stakeholders such as civil society and political parties are engaging the commission on transparency and confidence in the process.

A key development comes from the nation’s largest party.

ODM leader Oburu Oginga said the party has not yet decided whether to field its own presidential candidate or enter a coalition with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“Of course, if we are going it alone, I want to make it absolutely clear that our constitution already has a presidential candidate,” he said on December 31, 2025.

“That presidential candidate is none other than the party leader. It is the party leader speaking, and I am the party leader. I am the presidential leader for ODM if ODM decides to go it alone.”

He said ODM will make a formal decision before the end of 2026.

“Things must be worked out before 2027. Going into the New Year, before the end of the New Year, we shall have decided and made clear all the necessary arrangements,” Oburu said.

“Before the end of the year, our party shall know whether we are going it alone or we are going to go into a coalition with other parties.”

Despite public discontent, the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition has claimed political gains in recent by-elections.

These November 2025 victories have been touted as a boost for President Ruto’s base ahead of 2027.