Eliud Owalo, formerly Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, has announced his intention to run for Kenya’s presidency in 2027. Known for his strategic roles behind the scenes in major campaigns, Owalo now aims to shift from political adviser to national leader.
Owalo’s political journey includes advising key figures like Raila Odinga in 2013 and working alongside William Ruto before serving in his Cabinet. However, he has expressed a desire to move away from working for others, emphasizing a personal commitment to Kenya’s "third and final liberation"—economic emancipation.
Vision Rooted in Economic Empowerment
Owalo frames Kenya’s political history as a trilogy of liberations: independence from colonialism, the transition to multiparty democracy, and now economic freedom. He criticizes legacy politicians for focusing on electioneering and ethnic divisions while many Kenyans struggle with poverty and lack of opportunity.
Rejecting ethnic or regional political affiliations, Owalo instead identifies his support base as economically marginalized farmers and citizens lacking access to resources. This marks a departure from Kenya’s traditional coalition politics, which he believes will evolve closer to the election period.
Policy Priorities and Political Calculations
- Reduction of income tax from 35% to 20%
- Lowering VAT from 16% to 10%
- Cutting corporate tax by five percentage points
- Abolishing digital tax
- Digitizing government services fully
- Reopening corruption cases
- Reforming public health and education sectors
Owalo insists his departure from government was driven by principle and rejects claims that it was a tactic to influence Luo voter support. He positions himself as a technocrat focused on performance rather than political maneuvering.
As Kenya approaches the 2027 elections, Owalo’s emergence signals a potential shift towards issue-based politics centered on economic reform and governance.
