Former Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) chairman Macharia Njeru has announced his bid for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Njeru made the announcement on Monday, October 5, joining the growing list of aspirants seeking to succeed President William Ruto.

“The journey begins. Today, I officially announce my bid for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya,” Njeru stated.

Njeru, who served as IPOA’s inaugural chairman from 2012 to 2016, explained his decision to enter politics, questioning why professionals known for defending public institutions have often shied away from a space many consider difficult and “dirty.”

📌 What You Need to Know

He said his friends and family had asked him the same question many times, given his success in the private sector and experience working in public institutions.

Njeru argued that the decision by “good people” to stay out of politics is part of the problem, leaving voters to choose between what he described as the bad and the worse.

At the same time, the advocate noted that 63 years after independence, women and children still walk for miles to fetch water, while patients in hospitals are sent to buy gloves.

He also cited the African Youth Outlook report of 2026, which shows 91.5 per cent of youth are in informal jobs such as roasting maize and washing cars.

Njeru noted that some young people hold university degrees and even master’s qualifications , yet end up working as watchmen or on construction sites despite their level of education.

Additionally, Njeru, who has in recent months criticised some government policies, blamed the cycle on what he described as poor leadership, saying Kenyans often vote based on emotions without considering a candidate’s integrity or ability to govern, only to replace them in anger and repeat the cycle.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke