Renowned gospel singer and social justice advocate Reuben Kigame has announced that he will once again vie for the presidency in Kenya’s 2027 General Election, positioning himself as a candidate of ethical and value-driven leadership aimed at unseating President William Ruto.
Speaking on Monday during an interview with NTV’s Fixing the Nation, Kigame confirmed his intentions to be on the ballot, stating that he is in the final stages of preparing to officially launch his campaign.
“I’m not hoping, I’m planning to be on the ballot in 2027. I’m just getting ready to launch officially in a couple of weeks,” Kigame said. “It’s about two years to the election, so two years is good enough to roll it out.”
Kigame, who was barred from contesting in the 2022 elections by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) due to a shortfall in required signatures, said he views his renewed bid as a continuation of an unfinished journey. He stressed that his motivation stems from a desire to restore integrity and character in political leadership.
“We’ve got to look at the character of the person we elect, and it’s not just about the presidency. We need character-driven MCAs, Women Reps, MPs, Governors,” he remarked. “Look at cases still in the courts, like that of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. That’s the cost of not prioritizing ethical leadership.”
Kigame’s platform strongly emphasizes moral leadership, accountability, and the infusion of integrity into the public sector. He criticized the political class for failing to uphold the values they campaign on, noting that public confidence in leadership has been eroded by unfulfilled promises and ongoing corruption scandals.
Drawing on his consistent calls for value-centered governance since the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) era in 2020, Kigame reiterated the importance of creating structures that hold leaders accountable. He called on religious organizations, civil society groups, and media houses to develop a performance scorecard for both the current and future administrations to track integrity, transparency, and service delivery.
“We need value-building initiatives, not just infrastructure and mega projects. Religious institutions, the media, and civic groups should collaborate to evaluate whether our leaders are genuinely promoting the values they claim to support.”
Kigame also commended the Kenyan youth for their growing activism and commitment to demanding transparency and good governance. He urged voters, especially the younger generation, to scrutinize political aspirants based not only on their promises, but also on their track record of integrity and service.
“Kenyans must begin to evaluate leaders based on how faithfully they follow through on their promises. We can’t keep rewarding empty rhetoric. Character and capability should be at the center of our political decisions.”
This will be Kigame’s second attempt at the presidency after the IEBC disqualified him from the 2022 race. His campaign was widely seen as a fresh voice in the political arena, offering a values-based alternative to Kenya’s traditional power blocs. With his renewed ambition, Kigame is poised to challenge the political status quo and reframe the national conversation around ethics, integrity, and inclusive leadership.
The official launch of his 2027 campaign is expected in the coming weeks.
Written By Rodney Mbua
