Kenyan activist and staunch government critic Boniface Mwangi announced that he will run for president at the next elections in 2027.
This marked his most direct entry into the political arena after years of activism, photography and grassroots mobilisation.
Mr Mwangi pledged to deliver what he called Kenya’s “third liberation” from corruption, poverty and misrule.
Speaking at Ufungamano House in Nairobi on Wednesday during Katiba Day celebrations, Mwangi said his campaign will focus on free education, universal healthcare, free clean water and justice for victims of state brutality.
“The future of our country is in our hands. Today, on Katiba Day, I announce my bid for the presidency in 2027,” he said.
Former Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana, who was part of that struggle, described the venue as a “starter pistol for Kenya’s democratic journey.”
He urged Mwangi to unite progressive leaders ahead of 2027.
“Any leader who refuses to work with others for genuine transformation is not of liberatory spirit. They have another agenda.”
Musician Eric Wainaina praised Mwangi’s courage but cautioned him against the lure of power.”
“Many enter politics as good people and are corrupted by promises of wealth and privilege. How will you stay good, Bony?” he asked.
Dr Auma Obama, sister to former US President Barack Obama, condemned police killings during recent protests.
“Why do we elect leaders who shoot us? Kenya is too blessed and too talented to be dying in poverty and bullets. We must fix our country together,” she said.
In a video address, retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga warned of creeping authoritarianism but hailed Gen Z and millennial activists for stepping up with “new agendas for social transformation.”
The event was punctuated with emotional testimonies.
Mwangi, known for his anti-corruption campaigns and as the founder of PAWA254, criticised what he called “the worst Parliament in history”.
He accused the government of impoverishing Kenyans through over-taxation and ballooning debt.
“Meanwhile, the true criminals are protected, while innocent Kenyans are killed for carrying placards,” he said.
Mwangi framed his campaign under the slogan Mwanzo Mpya (A New Beginning), declaring:
“Kenya belongs to all of us. We must reclaim our power and act now.”
His 18-year-old son Nathan Mwangi was present and pledged that his generation would carry forward his father’s fight:
“My father’s love was never just for us at home — it was for this country. My generation is ready,”he said.
Ufungamano House holds historic significance as the launchpad of the 1990s second liberation movement, which birthed the 2010 Constitution.
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