City lawyer Wahome Thuku has warned President William Ruto that the 2027 presidential election may not be determined by his administration’s performance record or the strength of the opposition’s political agenda.
In a message directed at Ruto, Thuku argued that the President could be making the same political mistake made by former presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta by assuming that achievements in government would automatically translate into electoral support.
Thuku cited Kibaki’s 2007 re-election campaign, saying the former President appeared to believe his economic record would be enough to secure victory.
He also pointed to Uhuru’s political efforts under the Jubilee and Azimio arrangements, arguing that attempts to persuade voters through his administration’s achievements and preferred political choices ultimately failed to produce the expected outcome.
“Mr President, you are just unlucky to be President at a time when Kenyans are naturally excited about sending a President home after one term with or without reasons,” Thuku said.
The lawyer argued that Ruto’s repeated challenges to opposition leaders to present their scorecards could miss the broader issue driving the 2027 contest.
According to Thuku, some voters may already have made up their minds to reject the current administration, even if they have not yet decided which candidate they will support.
“Many Kenyans don’t even know who they will vote for, they know who they will not,” he said.
Thuku further suggested that the candidate who eventually defeats Ruto may not necessarily have a stronger performance record or a detailed political programme.
He said the election could instead become a referendum on whether Kenyans want Ruto to remain in office beyond his first term.
The lawyer also dismissed the importance of Ruto demanding scorecards from opposition leaders, arguing that voters could choose to remove the incumbent regardless of the records presented by his challengers.