Vet your leaders or risk another 2024, Dagoretti South aspirant Mbugua tells Kenyans

City lawyer Steve Mbugua has weighed in on the ongoing debate over former President Uhuru Kenyatta's political rights, arguing that the matter should be separated from politics and assessed strictly on the basis of the law.

Mbugua, a member of the Jubilee Party who is eyeing the Dagoretti South parliamentary seat in 2027, was speaking to Inooro TV on Monday evening. 

According to the lawyer, claims that a former head of state cannot hold office or lead a political party have no legal basis, noting that the political rights of a former president are protected under Article 38 of the Constitution and do not depend on the politics of the day.

He recalled that a law introduced by Parliament seeking to bar Kenyatta from such political activity was declared unlawful by the court.

"President Uhuru has freedom to participate, create, campaign or be a member of a political party. He has a right to participate in a political party and even start a new one. His political rights are still valid, and no one can take that right away," he said.

Mbugua argued that opposition to Kenyatta's political involvement is driven by politics rather than law. He noted that Kenyatta has led a party that has been in government for more than a decade, which he said makes it a natural target for any administration that does not enjoy its support.

"These are just political fights without any basis in law. Of course his party is a threat to any administration, especially when he is not supporting your agenda," he said.

He warned against using state power to curtail political rights simply because a person holds a different view.

"You cannot use the law to infringe on the rights of a person when they do not agree with you. You cannot use your political power to stop someone from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed right," he said.

Mbugua also pointed to Kenyatta's decision to step down as Jubilee Party leader as evidence that the party remains open to all Kenyans.

"By relinquishing his leadership of Jubilee, Uhuru has proven that the party is expanded for all Kenyans, it is inclusive, and any person, regardless of where they come from, can be head of the party. The agenda is to bring all Kenyans together," he said.

Turning to the 2027 race, Mbugua said the opposition's best chance of winning lies in uniting behind a single candidate who can command broad respect.

"The only way for the opposition to win is to marshal their numbers together, and to get the best suited candidate, the one who can command the respect of Kenyans, someone who can give hope of turning the country around," he said.

Asked about who holds the political mantle in the Mount Kenya region, Mbugua steered away from naming a "kingpin", saying politicians should instead focus on issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.

"Every politician who is eyeing a political seat should focus on issues. They should go to Kenyans and tell them what they will do to improve their current conditions. Kenyans don't need politicians on helicopters coming to tell them which political party is the most popular or which one is better. Kenyans need an economy that works for them, regardless of who they are," he said.

He also urged Kenyans to be more discerning when evaluating political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 polls, warning of a repeat of the 2024 unrest if leadership fails to deliver.

"Many parties will come, but we need to vet them. If they are not good people, vote them out. If we do not do that, we shall see people go back to the streets like it happened in 2024," he said.