People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has declared she will run for the presidency in 2027, vowing to serve only one term if elected.
The announcement, made during her party’s National Delegates Conference on Friday, sets the stage for a fierce battle within the opposition.
Karua, often referred to as the “Iron Lady” of Kenyan politics, framed her candidacy as an act of service rather than ambition.
“Today, before you, I declare my candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the next General Election under the banner of the People’s Liberation Party and within a united opposition,” she said.
She insisted that five years would be sufficient to lay a strong foundation for reform, adding that her single-term pledge was meant to “demystify power” in a continent where leaders often overstay their welcome.
This is not Karua’s first tilt at State House. She first sought the presidency in 2013 on a NARC Kenya ticket but finished sixth, securing less than one percent of the vote.
In 2022, she returned to the national stage as Raila Odinga’s running mate under the Azimio la Umoja coalition. That ticket lost narrowly to William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance, with Karua later emerging as a vocal critic of the electoral process.
Her career has been marked by both resilience and pitfalls. A former Justice Minister, she resigned from the Cabinet in 2009 citing frustrations over entrenched corruption.
Supporters see her as principled, while critics argue that her uncompromising style has often alienated potential allies.
Now leading the PLP, Karua has announced the launch of a new movement, “One People, One Purpose, One Term,” which she says will rally Kenyans around integrity, justice, and accountability.
“Kenyans are hurting, and Kenyans deserve better,” she said, calling on opposition leaders and citizens to unite behind her.
Her entry into the race is expected to unsettle the opposition camp, where Democratic Congress Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has also declared his candidacy. The looming contest between the two could redefine the balance of power ahead of 2027.
