DNK International By Our Correspondent,Nairobi
Former Roots Party deputy presidential candidate Justina Wamae has joined the growing list of presidential aspirants seeking to succeed President William Ruto in the August 2027 General Election, marking her latest attempt to rise to the highest office in the country.
Wamae, who was the running mate of Roots Party leader Professor George Wajackoyah in the 2022 presidential election, officially declared her presidential bid on Sunday, October 25, 2026, following the launch of her new political outfit, the Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP).
Her entry into the race adds another woman to the increasingly competitive presidential contest, which has attracted opposition leaders and independent political figures seeking to challenge Ruto’s re-election bid.
Martha Karua, the leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), has also expressed her intention to contest the presidency, with opposition leaders facing the challenge of agreeing on a single candidate to challenge the incumbent.
Wamae launched her party under the slogan “Inatuhusu,” meaning “It concerns us,” arguing that her previous political experiences taught her the importance of having an independent political platform where she can influence decisions rather than merely follow established political leaders.
“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 realised I was just a member, without any say,” she said during the launch.
The Imarisha Uchumi Party received its full registration certificate on October 15, 2026, and has announced its intention to field candidates in all elective positions during the 2027 elections.
Justina was born on May 25, 1987 in Kibera,one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements.
Talking to Daily News Kenya-International when she was Wajackoyah’s running mate in 2022, she said that it was in Kibera where she experienced the challenges associated with growing up in a modest household.
Her family she said later on relocated to Syokimau in Machakos County following the 2007–2008 deadly post-election violence, an experience that coincided with a difficult period in the country’s political history.
Justina attended Kilimani Primary School before proceeding to Limuru Girls High School, where she completed her secondary education in 2005.
She joined Daystar University, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management Information Systems.
She furthered her studies in purchasing, supply chain management and procurement, obtaining a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply in the United Kingdom in 2012.
In 2014, she completed a master’s degree in Purchasing and Logistics at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), equipping her with professional knowledge in procurement, logistics and business management.
Her educational background she added that has informed her emphasis on economic development, public resource management and employment creation as she prepares to present herself to voters in 2027.
Before entering national politics, Wamae pursued opportunities in business and professional development.
Her early working experience included assignments with the British Council, while she also gained experience in procurement, supply chain management and business operations.
She later ventured into business, particularly excavation, construction and the supply of building materials.
Her involvement in the private sector helped shape her public image as a businesswoman seeking to translate her commercial experience into political leadership.
She also served as managing director of Finpro Association Limited, an organisation associated with efforts to empower youth owned businesses.
Her interest in women’s participation in leadership was further demonstrated through her involvement with the Warembo na Uhuru lobby group during the 2017 election campaigns.
Her political journey became more prominent in 2017 when she sought to contest a parliamentary seat in Mavoko Constituency, Machakos County.
After failing to secure the Jubilee Party nomination, she contested as an independent candidate but lost the election, reportedly garnering approximately 1,200 votes.
Despite the setback, she remained interested in public service and continued pursuing opportunities to participate in national leadership.
Her major breakthrough came in 2022 when Wajackoyah selected her as his running mate under the Roots Party ticket.
The decision elevated her from a relatively little known political figure to a nationally recognised personality.
Wajackoyah’s campaign attracted considerable public attention through its proposals to explore cannabis related economic opportunities, reform aspects of the criminal justice system and introduce unconventional approaches to addressing Kenya’s financial challenges.
Justina became part of the campaign’s public face, appearing alongside Wajackoyah at political events and defending aspects of the party’s agenda.
Her business background and professional qualifications also gave the ticket a different dimension as it sought to appeal to voters interested in economic transformation and employment.
However, the partnership was not without controversy.
The relationship between Justina and Wajackoyah deteriorated during the campaign period after disagreements reportedly emerged over the party’s political direction and internal decision making.
In August 2022,Justina publicly explained that the disagreement arose after a video appeared to show Wajackoyah endorsing Azimio presidential candidate the late Raila Odinga.
She questioned the apparent position, arguing that the party had not discussed or agreed on such a move.
According to Wamae, the disagreement was a matter of principle rather than a personal dispute.
She maintained that she wanted clarity about the party’s position and believed that important political decisions should be discussed within the party.
Justina also alleged that Wajackoyah “Tingiza Miti” blocked her on social media and other communication channels after she questioned the direction the party was taking.
Wajackoyah’s camp at the time reportedly initiated disciplinary proceedings against her over her conduct and statements during the campaign.
The fallout exposed tensions within the Roots Party at a time when the presidential campaign was attracting national attention.
Despite the disagreements, the Wajackoyah-Justina ticket proceeded to the August 9, 2022, General Election, finishing third with a paltry 61,969 votes, far behind the leading presidential contenders.
The result marked the end of Justina’s first major national electoral campaign but did not end her political ambitions.
Following the election, she formally resigned from the Roots Party in September 2022, stating that her role as Wajackoyah’s running mate had ended following the declaration of President William Ruto as president and the Supreme Court decision upholding the presidential election results.
Her departure marked the beginning of an independent political path.
Justina,has established the Inatuhusu Movement, which has focused on encouraging participation in leadership and politics, particularly among young people and women.
She also continued engaging in public affairs and exploring opportunities to contribute to government and public service.
In July 2024, she was appointed to a presidential task force on human resources for health but declined the appointment, citing personal circumstances, including motherhood responsibilities.
Her political positioning has also attracted attention because of her willingness to engage in national debates beyond party boundaries.
In the aftermath of the 2022 election, she indicated an interest in applying for a public service position in the new administration, arguing that her interest was in serving Kenyans regardless of which political side formed the government.
Now seeking the presidency under the Imarisha Uchumi Party, Wamae is positioning economic transformation, agriculture, youth employment and reforms to the affordable housing programme at the centre of her campaign.
At the party’s launch, she proposed allocating 25 per cent of the national budget to agriculture, arguing that increased investment in the sector would help stimulate economic growth, create jobs and improve livelihoods.
She has also pledged to expand the National Youth Service (NYS) to all 290 constituencies, saying young people should have greater access to opportunities for skills development and employment.
Justina argues that employment opportunities should be accessible through transparent systems rather than personal connections, which she believes have disadvantaged many qualified young Kenyans.
Another major promise from her concerns the Affordable Housing Levy introduced under President Ruto’s administration.
She has pledged to abolish the levy in its current form and refund contributions to Kenyans who no longer wish to participate in the housing programme.
Under her proposal, those who want to continue participating would be able to purchase the houses through mortgage arrangements, while eligible contributors seeking to withdraw would receive refunds with interest.
She says the interest rate for such refunds should be determined in consultation with the Central Bank of Kenya and the National Treasury.
Her proposal is likely to become one of the issues through which voters assess her economic agenda, particularly as households continue to debate taxation, housing affordability and the cost of living.
On electoral transparency,the Presidential aspirant has called for election processes to be livestreamed, arguing that greater openness would strengthen public confidence in electoral outcomes.
She has also expressed support for political cooperation, but insists that any alliance should be founded on shared ideas and a common economic agenda rather than the mere desire to acquire power.
“Beyond sloganeering, the most important thing is ideas,” she has said, underscoring her argument that political parties should offer practical solutions to the challenges facing the country.
Her emphasis on independent decision making also reflects her experience in the Roots Party, where she says she discovered the limitations of being a political member or running mate without sufficient influence over important decisions.
Justina’s presidential bid, however, faces considerable challenges.
She must build a nationwide political network, attract experienced candidates, mobilise financial resources and persuade voters that her party can provide a viable alternative to the established political formations.
She also enters a crowded political field in which opposition leaders are yet to resolve the question of whether to unite behind one presidential candidate or allow competing bids to proceed.
Her experience as a former presidential running mate gives her a degree of national recognition, but her 2022 electoral performance also illustrates the difficulty of converting public attention into a substantial vote.
For Justina, the 2027 contest presents an opportunity to move from being a deputy presidential candidate on another politician’s ticket to leading her own party and articulating an independent vision for Kenya.
Whether her promises on agriculture, employment, housing and electoral transparency will resonate with voters remains to be seen.
Her immediate task will be to turn the Imarisha Uchumi Party from a newly launched political vehicle into a credible national movement capable of competing effectively in the next General Election.
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🗓️ [Daily News Kenya-International@October 28,2026]
