By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, June 05, 2026 - A little-known political outfit has thrust itself into Kenya's increasingly crowded political arena with a blistering attack on President William Ruto, the electoral commission and what it describes as the slow death of devolution.
In a strongly worded statement, Federal Party of Kenya National Chairman Philip Obonyo Oluoch Abuba sought to position the party as a grassroots alternative ahead of the 2027 General Election, touching on nearly every fault line shaping Kenya's political discourse.
The broadside comes at a time when opposition formations remain fragmented and new political actors are searching for relevance in a landscape still dominated by established parties.
At the centre of the party's message was a sharp rejection of reports that Kenya could host a quarantine facility for Ebola-exposed individuals. Framing the issue as one of sovereignty rather than public health, Abuba accused foreign powers of attempting to transfer their health burdens to Kenya and warned that ordinary citizens were being excluded from decisions with potentially far-reaching consequences.
The remarks tap into growing public sensitivity over foreign influence and national sovereignty, themes that have increasingly featured in political mobilisation across the country.
But it was on the economy where the Federal Party launched its most direct attack on the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Abuba argued that millions of Kenyans listed with Credit Reference Bureaus are victims of economic hardship rather than financial irresponsibility. He accused the government of prioritising optics over economic recovery and challenged State House to redirect spending towards reviving collapsed industrial giants such as Mumias Sugar Company, Rivatex East Africa and Pan Paper Mills.
The argument mirrors a growing political narrative that Kenya's economic recovery should be measured not by macroeconomic indicators but by jobs created and factories reopened.
The statement also exposed a battle that is quietly gathering momentum ahead of 2027: the struggle over devolution.
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The Federal Party accused the national government of starving counties of resources while publicly professing support for devolved governance. Its demand that road agencies be transferred to county governments reflects frustrations among governors and ward representatives who argue that key development functions remain concentrated in Nairobi despite constitutional promises of decentralisation.
Perhaps the most politically significant section of the statement was its warning to President Ruto over the treatment of Members of County Assembly.
Abuba claimed the President's re-election prospects would ultimately depend less on Members of Parliament and more on MCAs, whom he described as the closest link between government and citizens. The message appeared designed to elevate the political relevance of ward representatives while signalling that grassroots leaders intend to become a decisive force in future electoral calculations.
The proposal to bar governors from seeking Senate seats and senators from contesting governorships added another controversial dimension. Supporters may view it as a move to end political recycling. Critics are likely to see it as an attempt to restrict democratic choice.
On electoral reforms, the party demanded full implementation of recommendations made by the Johann Kriegler-led review of Kenya's electoral system, arguing that transparency in procurement and election management remains critical to preventing future disputes.
While the Federal Party currently lacks the national machinery of Kenya's major political formations, its declaration that it intends to field candidates across the country, including for the presidency, suggests an ambition extending far beyond county politics.
Whether that ambition translates into electoral influence remains uncertain. Yet the statement offers an early glimpse into the themes likely to dominate Kenya's march towards 2027: economic frustration, devolution, electoral credibility and an intensifying struggle for control of the grassroots.