Kenya’s crowded 2027 presidential race just got a new contender — and a new political philosophy — as the Bus Party officially broke ranks with the country’s major coalitions and declared it will field its own presidential candidate.
The announcement, made at a press briefing in Nairobi, signals a bold challenge to the dominance of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio and positions the Bus Party as a potential third force in the run-up to 2027.
Led by Hon. Lenny Kivuti and former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, the party’s leadership rejected any alignment with existing political formations, vowing to run a nationwide campaign grounded in ideology, integrity, and service — not tribal arithmetic or personality cults.
“We are a party with a clear ideology and a strong moral compass,” said Hon. Kivuti. “We will not be absorbed into any existing coalition, whether it is Kenya Kwanza, UDA, or any other formation. Our doors are open to leaders and citizens who share our values, but we will not compromise our independence.”
Kiraitu Murungi, a seasoned political figure who has served in various capacities since Kenya’s transition to multi-party democracy in the early 1990s, emphasized that the party aims to offer Kenyans “more than recycled politics.”
As part of its national strategy, the Bus Party confirmed it will field a candidate in the upcoming Mbeere parliamentary by-election — the first real test of its grassroots strength following Hon. Geophrey Ruku’s resignation.
The Bus Party, originally launched as a regional outfit in the Mt. Kenya East region, has recently undergone a strategic transformation aimed at establishing itself as a national political force.
With leadership drawn from experienced public servants and reform-minded politicians, the party is betting on its message of clean governance and inclusivity to attract voters disillusioned by Kenya’s traditional political structures.
Hon. Lenny Kivuti, a former Senator and MP for Embu, is known for his technocratic background and development-focused agenda.
Kiraitu Murungi, a former Cabinet Minister and long-time political strategist, brings decades of political experience and institutional knowledge to the party’s leadership.
The party’s leaders say they are playing the long game: building a political infrastructure that transcends regionalism and political expediency, with an eye on transforming how politics is practiced in Kenya.
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