Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria announces 2027 presidential bid

Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has now announced that he will run for the country’s presidency at the 2027 General Election.

The former governor said that despite his failed bid in last year’s polls, he will return to the ballot and seek the country’s top position through his Usawa Kwa Wote party.

Wa Iria was removed from the presidential nomination register by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after he allegedly failed to garner sufficient signatures.

But he now says that he will start collecting signatures immediately in a bid to seal any loopholes that may lock him out of the ballot again.

“2027 mimi ntakuwa kwa debe…hizo signatures walisema tutaanza sai, nitawapatia signatures 15 million. Kwa hivo tutaanza kuziweka ili box ijae…ili ile sababu ambayo walikuwa wanatumia, tuone watatumia gani wakati huo,” said Wa Iria during a press address on Wednesday.

He castigated those saying that he was part of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party saying that he has all along been steering the Usawa party.

After his bid for the presidency failed, Wa Iria - who served as Murang’a Governor for two terms - threw his support behind Azimio candidate Raila Odinga who lost to the eventual winner, and now President, William Ruto.

“Hakuna mtu alinitetea mimi, niliwachwa kama yatima…lakini wao wanasema waliibiwa wanataka tuwatetee…mimi sitatetea mtu ambaye anasema aliibiwa kwa sababu naye hakunitetea, na sio kwa ubaya. Mimi niko na mrengo wangu unaitwa Usawa Kwa Wote,” he stated.

Wa Iria also called on political leaders to stop fueling a spat between the Western and Mt. Kenya regions, adding that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja should not be blown out of proportion.

Last month, DP Gachagua hit out at Governor Sakaja for ordering matatus out of the Central Business District (CBD) alleging that he was targeting traders from the Mt. Kenya region.

The sentiments elicited sharp reactions from leaders from the Western region who have since defended Sakaja, while their counterparts from Mt. Kenya came out to back the DP.

But, according to Wa Iria, the two communities have always been united and should not be divided by a tiff between two leaders.