Former Senior Economic Advisor to President William Ruto, Moses Kuria, has claimed that the 2027 presidential elections will be determined by a run-off.
Taking to social media on Sunday, the Chama cha Kazi (CCK) chair claimed that for the first time in 33 years, Kenyans will have to vote a second time to elect the president.
This, he said, was due to the growing multipartism in the country that has grown over the last three decades.
"Kenya's fledgling multi-party democratic project has been growing gradually over the last 33 years. In 2027, a new chapter will be written in this book," the statement read in part.
"For the first time, the winner of the Presidential Election will be decided in a run-off. There will be no outright winner in the first round.
Even though the previous 2022 General Elections saw President William Ruto go head-to-head with Raila Odinga to the last minute, Ruto won with 50.49 per cent of the votes, and Odinga came second with 48.85 per cent.
If the top candidate had not won by over 50 per cent, a run-off would have been necessitated, and the two would have gone for a second round to determine the winner.
Even before he left his post as Ruto's advisor, Kuria claimed that he had kept asserting that Kenya would not hold a general election in 2027, long before the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was constituted.
While doubling down on his remarks on June 30, Kuria blamed the late appointment of the commissioners, stating, “In another 39 days, we will start the 24-month countdown to the 2027 elections.”
“Going by our litigious nature, this case will go all the way to the Supreme Court. It may go on till September 2027.”
He was talking about an ongoing court case that had blocked the swearing-in of IEBC commissioners, despite Parliament having been allowed to vet and approve the nominees.
The commission has since been constituted and the commissioners sworn into office, with even by-elections set for later this year on November 27.
Kuria's claims of a run-off reflect the high number of candidates that have already expressed interest in vying for the top seat, although 2027 is far away and no aspirants have been cast in stone yet, besides President William Ruto.
The Orange Democratic Movement, led by Raila Odinga, has yet to declare a stance. The United Opposition, on the other hand, has several candidates, including Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang'i, who have expressed interest in the seat.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya have also expressed the same.
