Saboti MP Caleb Amisi Declares 2027 Presidential Bid
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has formally announced his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election, setting the stage for an early political showdown with President William Ruto as realignments intensify across the country.
Addressing residents during a series of roadside engagements in Luanda town and Mudete, Vihiga County, on Sunday, the outspoken legislator said his presidential bid is motivated by what he termed Kenya’s “lost standing” under the Kenya Kwanza administration. He accused President Ruto of presiding over economic decline and prioritising political manoeuvres ahead of national development.
Amisi claimed the Head of State had deployed senior figures, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, to advance what he described as personal political ambitions rather than the country’s long-term interests.
“I will come back here on the 9th not to seek votes as an MCA, Women Representative, or Senator, but for the President of the Republic of Kenya,” he told the crowd. “I will be seeking votes to lead this country.”
The Saboti MP, who is part of the Kenya Moja caucus alongside ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has increasingly positioned himself as an independent political voice. His recent actions signal a widening rift with ODM, the party on whose ticket he was elected.
In July, Amisi hinted he may exit the party, criticising ODM’s cooperation with President Ruto’s government.
“I am a member of ODM—I was elected on an ODM ticket for five years. Until then, if ODM continues collaborating with William Ruto, then I will not seek re-election with that party,” he warned at the time.
His growing national profile has not been without controversy. Elders from Trans Nzoia County recently urged both Amisi and Sifuna to resign from their elected positions, accusing them of disloyalty to the party and fuelling political division.
The elders argued that stepping down would clear the way for by-elections, offering what they described as a “true test” of the pair’s political strength without ODM’s backing. Their criticism also questioned the duo’s suitability for senior leadership roles within or outside the party.
Amisi, however, has dismissed the calls for his resignation, insisting his political agenda is driven by a commitment to fighting “injustices” affecting his community and empowering Kenya’s youth. He emphasised that his movement seeks to “restore dignity and direction” in national leadership.
While the MP has declared his presidential ambitions, he stopped short of confirming whether he will vie under the ODM banner or seek an alternative political vehicle. With just under two years to the polls, his next steps are likely to shape emerging political coalitions and inject fresh uncertainty into the opposition landscape.
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Saboti MP Caleb Amisi Declares 2027 Presidential Bid