Wanjigi vows to reject ‘odious' debt, scrap SHA and VAT if elected president in 2027

Safina Party leader and 2027 presidential hopeful Jimi Wanjigi has pledged sweeping economic and social policy changes, including the abolition of the Social Health Authority (SHA), removal of Value Added Tax (VAT), and the introduction of free education from primary school to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Speaking during a town hall meeting in Mombasa on Monday evening, Wanjigi also vowed that his administration would not honour what he described as illegitimate or odious public debt.

“Hiyo deni ya kora hatutalipa. Na nyinyi mkiamua ya kwamba hii uchaguzi tunaingia, tunaingia na huo msemo; hatutalipa hiyo deni kwa sababu sio halali, haiku kwa budget yetu, haikuingia Central Bank yetu, liingia mifuko ya wengine,” said Wanjigi.

The businessman-turned-politician argued that some of Kenya’s debt obligations were acquired outside proper government budgeting processes and therefore should not be repaid by taxpayers.

On healthcare, Wanjigi promised to dismantle the current health insurance framework under SHA and replace it with a system that guarantees treatment for all Kenyans using national identification cards.

“Hakuna mtu atatoa pesa kwa mfuko yake alipe SHA tena…hakuna SHA, hakuna SHIF, hakuna chochote; hiyo tutaitoa haraka sana. Unaenda hospitali na ID yako, unapata matibabu, unapata dawa, kwa ajili wewe ni Mkenya halisi,” he said.

His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and broader healthcare reforms.

Wanjigi also outlined plans to overhaul the country’s tax regime, proposing the complete removal of VAT and its replacement with a single sales tax.

“Kuna kitu inaitwa VAT…sisi tutaitoa kabisa, na tutaweka kitu inaitwa sales tax ya 5 per cent pekee yake. Mafuta itarudi chini, gharama ya maisha itarudi chini, kila kitu itarudi chini,” he stated.

According to Wanjigi, the proposed changes would lower the cost of fuel and ease the burden of the rising cost of living on ordinary Kenyans.

The Safina Party leader further promised to make education entirely free from primary school to TVET level, saying the government already has sufficient resources to fund the sector.

“Elimu yenu tumefanya hesabu…elimu ya primary school, high school, TVET…hiyo pesa ni Ksh.265 billion, iko hapo, hakuna malipo ambayo itatoka kwa mwananchi tena kwa mambo ya elimu,” he said.

Wanjigi has intensified his public engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election, positioning himself as an alternative to the current political establishment through a platform centred on reducing the cost of living, expanding access to social services and restructuring government taxation and borrowing policies.