By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 18 April 2026 - Kenya’s political arena sharpened considerably this weekend as Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi delivered a searing critique of Nyanza’s leadership, accusing them of abandoning their constituents in favour of political expediency.
Speaking at the launch of the party’s Siaya office, Wanjigi cast his intervention as both a warning and a call to political awakening in a region long regarded as a citadel of opposition politics.
In unusually stark terms, Wanjigi charged that sections of the region’s leadership had become complicit in sustaining a government he portrayed as economically reckless and indifferent to public suffering.
“Leaders in this region must stop compromising the rights and lives of their people for selfish gain,” he declared.
“You cannot align with a government that continues to burden citizens, borrow endlessly, and preside over suffering, then claim to represent the people.”
His remarks were calculated to resonate beyond the immediate audience, striking at the heart of a growing unease over shifting political loyalties within Nyanza.
In framing cooperation with the government as a betrayal, Wanjigi sought to recast the region’s evolving political dynamics as a struggle between principle and opportunism.
At the centre of his argument was the notion that Nyanza’s political identity—historically rooted in resistance and reform—is under threat.
“We will not allow this government to force itself onto the political foundation built by our father,Raila Odinga, and dismantle it for selfish gain,” Wanjigi warned.
“The people of this region must remain vigilant. Your leaders are failing you. They decided to join the government, and now they are crying foul.”
This appeal to legacy was as strategic as it was emotive. By invoking the region’s political heritage, Wanjigi positioned himself as a defender of its ideological core while implicitly questioning the legitimacy of those he accuses of drifting from it. It is a delicate manoeuvre, aimed at both consolidating support and redefining the terms of political allegiance.
Yet the address was not confined to criticism. Wanjigi used the platform to firmly stake his claim in the 2027 presidential race, presenting himself as a candidate defined by economic clarity and competence.
More from Kenya
“Those who want power must show their formula. I have shown mine. I will be on the ballot in 2027,” he asserted.
“No one understands this economy better than me… I am ready to liberate Kenya. I am ready to steady this economy. Do not be misled—the liberation we need is economic liberation.”
Such confidence underscores a broader strategy to elevate economic management as the central issue of the next election.
By doing so, Wanjigi is attempting to distinguish himself in what is expected to be a crowded and competitive field, positioning his candidacy as one anchored in technocratic credibility rather than traditional political alliances.
His running mate, Willis Otieno, reinforced this message with a pointed critique of public service delivery, calling for free healthcare and education as fundamental rights.
His remarks echoed the party’s broader populist tone, emphasising the disconnect between taxation and tangible public benefit.
The argument is clear: that the state has become extractive rather than supportive, a theme likely to resonate with a populace grappling with economic strain.
Meanwhile, Secretary General Joakim Simiyu closed the event with a defiant flourish, expressing confidence that the current administration would not survive the next electoral cycle. His remarks served to amplify the sense of urgency and momentum Safina is seeking to project as it expands its grassroots presence.
The opening of the Siaya office, therefore, was far more than a routine party event. It marked a strategic incursion into a politically significant region and signalled Safina’s intent to compete vigorously for influence ahead of 2027. Through a blend of sharp rhetoric, economic positioning, and organisational expansion, Wanjigi has made clear that he intends to be a central figure in the unfolding political contest.
Whether this bold approach will translate into electoral success remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that Wanjigi has injected fresh intensity into Kenya’s political discourse—one that is likely to reverberate well beyond Nyanza as the country edges closer to its next defining election.