One term then what? Wanjigi challenges opposition leaders to offer agenda

Safina Party leader Maina Wanjigi during a public engagement in Mombasa on June 1, 2026/FB

Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi has challenged both the government and opposition leaders to move beyond political slogans and tell Kenyans exactly how they intend to improve their lives, arguing that debates over whether President William Ruto should serve one term or two terms are not enough on their own.

‎Wanjigi said he supports opposition efforts aimed at making Ruto a one-term president but insisted that Kenyans must demand concrete solutions from those seeking to replace the current administration.

‎"Hawa watu wa one term niko na wao, lakini waulize watafanya nini. Wakenya wataishi namna gani?" Wanjigi said this during a town hall meeting in Mombasa.

‎The businessman-turned-politician questioned what would happen after the current administration leaves office, warning that simply replacing one leader with another without a clear plan could leave Kenyans facing the same challenges.

‎"One term, two term, then what? If you remove President William Ruto, what will happen after that? If you remove him and replace him with someone just like him, are you also not going to cry again, saying one term?" he posed.

‎Wanjigi argued that Kenya's political discourse has repeatedly been dominated by campaign slogans that fail to translate into meaningful change for ordinary citizens.

‎According to him, the 2022 election was framed as a contest between "hustlers" and "dynasties", with promises that the interests of ordinary Kenyans would take centre stage.

‎"Ilikuwa mwenye hana pesa na mwenye ako nayo, lakini saa hii imebadilika. Yule mwenye hana anaendelea kulia," he said.

‎He claimed many Kenyans who rallied behind the hustler narrative now feel disappointed by the state of the economy and the rising cost of living.

‎"Are you not the hustlers who are now crying, saying you were lied to?" he asked the audience.

‎Wanjigi maintained that what matters most is not political chants but the policies leaders intend to implement once elected.

‎"When they come here selling one term, ask them what they will do. And do not accept to be lied to anymore because if you accept, you will be alone crying," he said.

‎The Safina Party leader used the forum to outline some of his own proposals, including abolishing the 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) and replacing it with a five per cent sales tax.

‎He argued that reducing the tax burden would lower the cost of goods and ease pressure on households and businesses.

‎Wanjigi also pledged to make secondary school and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education free if elected president, saying access to education should not depend on a family's financial status.

‎His remarks come amid growing opposition campaigns targeting the Kenya Kwanza administration ahead of the 2027 General Election, with some leaders rallying supporters around calls for Ruto to serve only one term.

‎According to Wanjigi, voters should judge leaders not merely by their criticism of opponents, but by the practical solutions they offer to address unemployment, the high cost of living, education and economic opportunities.

‎He said the central question facing Kenyans is not simply who should occupy State House next, but what kind of policies will transform the lives of citizens after the election slogans fade.