Former 2022 Roots Party running mate Justina Wamae on Sunday officially declared her intention to contest the presidency in 2027 and launched a new political party, the Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP). The-star
Speaking at the party’s launch event in Nairobi, Wamae said, “I, Justina Wamae, officially declare my bid for the presidency under the IUP. I was a member of TNA in 2017 and a running mate in 2022, but in both instances I realized I was just a member, without any say.” The party, whose slogan is “Inatuhusu,” received full registration from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties on October 15. Wamae is listed as party leader under membership number IUP-000001 and said the outfit intends to field candidates for all elective positions. Citizen
A central pledge is the scrapping of the Affordable Housing Levy introduced under President William Ruto’s administration. Wamae promised to refund contributions—with interest determined in consultation with the Central Bank of Kenya and the National Treasury—to Kenyans who no longer wish to participate, while offering mortgages to those who want to continue. She also committed to allocating 25 percent of the national budget to agriculture, expanding the National Youth Service to all 290 constituencies, and creating transparent employment opportunities for young people so they do not need personal connections to get jobs. The-star
Wamae said she is open to alliances with like-minded leaders, but only if they are based on shared ideas and an economic agenda rather than the mere pursuit of power. She also called for livestreaming of election processes to improve accountability and public confidence in results, and urged reforms to make political party registration less cumbersome. The-star
The businesswoman and policy advocate first gained national prominence as the running mate to Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah in the 2022 presidential race. Their ticket finished third with 61,969 votes. She later parted ways with the party and has since promoted issue-based politics through the Inatuhusu Movement, consistently rejecting pressure to align with Kenya’s main political camps. Wikipedia
Wamae holds qualifications in purchasing and supply management and strategic management and has a background in marketing, supply chain, and logistics businesses. Her entry adds another independent platform to the emerging field of candidates positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election.