Former The National Alliance (TNA) Secretary-General Onyango Oloo has unveiled a new political party and declared his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
Oloo’s Freedom and Opportunity Party (FOP) received its full registration certificate on Monday, becoming the 102nd political party in Kenya.
Speaking to The Star after receiving the certificate, Oloo expressed joy at the milestone, saying he was ready to offer himself for the country’s top seat, subject to endorsement by party members.
“I am offering myself to contest for the top seat. If party members endorse it, I will be in the race,” he said.
The declaration positions Oloo among the political figures seeking to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections, as opposition leaders continue to explore possible alliances and strategies for unseating the incumbent.
However, Oloo said his immediate priority was building FOP and establishing its identity before engaging in coalition negotiations with other political parties.
He cautioned against joining political alliances without a clear agreement on shared principles and objectives, saying the party would only work with formations whose aspirations aligned with its own.
“We will not join a coalition just for the sake of joining. Their aspirations must align with ours. We want to work with like-minded parties,” he said.
Oloo said FOP would not pursue power at any cost, insisting that its ultimate objective was to improve the lives of Kenyans rather than simply secure positions in government.
“We do not want to form the next government at all costs. Our ultimate objective is to transform lives,” he said.
He added that the party would be willing to serve in either government or the Opposition, depending on the decision of voters.
“If Kenyans give us the opportunity to be in Opposition, we will thank them for giving us the role to check the government in place. It will be an honour. If they give us the opportunity to form government, the better,” Oloo said.
The party’s registration comes as political formations begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 elections, with several opposition leaders expressing interest in the presidency while calls for a single candidate continue to shape discussions on possible alliances.
During the certificate presentation, Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou urged Oloo to remain faithful to the ideology and principles declared by the party.
“I want to believe that you have a reason for wanting to be there,” Lorionokou said, challenging the new party to demonstrate its commitment to its stated objectives.
He encouraged FOP to contribute to strengthening Kenya’s democracy by providing opportunities for citizens to exercise their political rights and participate in political processes.
Lorionokou also urged the party to create space for young people, noting that many had complained about being denied meaningful opportunities within political parties.
“You stated your ideology, what you stand for. We want you to follow that and be part of the shapers of democracy in Kenya,” he said.
He expressed hope that FOP would live up to its name by creating opportunities for Kenyans to participate in politics and have their voices heard.
“I look forward to seeing you being a party of opportunities, as you said, allowing Kenyans to get some space and exercise their political rights,” he said.
Lorionokou further cautioned Oloo that establishing and running a political party would be challenging, particularly given the increasingly charged political environment ahead of the General Election.
“It is a challenging environment, you know. The environment is already charged,” he said, urging the party to maintain a national outlook.
“Keep your party as national as possible,” he added.
