“Your Time Is Up”: Reuben Kigame Turns Up Heat on Ruto and Kenyatta as 2027 Politics Intensify

 

By Wasike Elvis

 Presidential aspirant and veteran gospel musician Reuben Kigame has delivered a sharply worded political message directed at President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and their political associates, accusing Kenya’s political establishment of presiding over economic hardship, institutional decline and growing public frustration.

In a statement appearing on a campaign graphic bearing his name and identifying him as a “Presidential Aspirant 2027,” Kigame told the political figures that “your time is up” and urged them to retreat from the political arena.

The graphic, which has circulated online, accuses the leaders of having “messed up” the lives of Kenyans and their children, destroying institutions, increasing the country’s debt burden and using state power in ways that, according to the statement, have harmed innocent citizens.

Kigame also questioned the concentration of wealth among political and business elites while many Kenyans continue to struggle with unemployment, landlessness and the cost of living.

“Look at your economic empires and compare them to the starving, landless Kenyans,” the statement says.

Kigame sharpens his 2027 message

The latest message fits into a broader political campaign that Kigame has been building around the 2027 General Election.

The gospel musician and activist declared in 2025 that he intended to make another attempt at the presidency after being prevented from appearing on the presidential ballot in 2022. Citizen Digital reported at the time that Kigame said he was planning to be on the ballot in 2027 and intended to campaign around ethical, character-driven leadership. Citizen

His 2022 presidential nomination became the subject of a legal dispute. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said his nomination had not met the requirements for registration, while a High Court decision found violations concerning his rights as a person with a disability. The electoral commission subsequently appealed that decision. IEBC+1

Kigame has since presented his renewed political campaign as an effort to bring what he describes as values-based and people-centred leadership into national politics.

In September 2025, he told Citizen TV that his proposed presidency would be “radical and disruptive,” while identifying education, media freedom, inclusivity and good governance among the issues he wanted to place at the centre of his political platform. Citizen

Direct message to Ruto and Kenyatta

The latest statement goes beyond outlining policy proposals and directly challenges the political establishment associated with both the current and previous administrations.

Addressing Ruto as the current president and Kenyatta as the former president, Kigame accuses their political networks of contributing to Kenya's economic and institutional difficulties.

Among the most serious allegations in the statement are claims that political power has been used to harm citizens and that national resources have been channelled toward local and foreign business interests.

Those are political allegations made by Kigame, rather than independently established findings presented in the graphic. The statement does not itself provide evidence or documentation for each allegation.

Kigame concludes by telling the leaders to “retreat and search your hearts,” framing his intervention as both a political challenge and an appeal for a different approach to leadership.

A growing field ahead of 2027

Kigame's renewed presidential ambitions come as Kenya's 2027 political landscape continues to take shape.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has also declared his intention to seek the presidency in 2027. In June 2026, The Star reported that Kigame had publicly pledged his support for Maraga's presidential bid and encouraged young Kenyans to rally behind him. The Star

That development adds an interesting dimension to Kigame's political journey because he has previously indicated that he is seeking the presidency himself.

In May 2026, Kigame also said that taking up a teaching role at Daystar University did not mean he was abandoning his presidential ambitions. He told TUKO that he was not quitting the presidential race and intended to continue pursuing his political goals alongside his other professional activities. Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news.

By July 2026, Kigame had also joined the People's Renaissance Movement, according to local reporting, describing his political objectives in terms of national unity, integrity, economic development and people-centred governance. Uasin Gishu News

Focus on the cost of living and inequality

Economic hardship has remained one of the themes in Kigame's political messaging.

His latest statement contrasts what it describes as the wealth accumulated by political and business elites with the circumstances of Kenyans facing poverty and landlessness.

The argument comes amid a broader political debate in Kenya over taxation, public debt, employment, government spending and the cost of basic goods and services.

Kigame has previously called for stronger accountability from elected leaders and urged Kenyans to judge politicians according to whether they fulfil campaign promises. In his 2025 presidential announcement, he argued that ethical leadership should extend beyond the presidency to governors, MPs, senators, MCAs and other public officials. Citizen

From gospel music to presidential politics

Kigame is perhaps best known nationally for his long career as a gospel musician, but he has also been involved in politics for more than a decade.

He contested the Vihiga gubernatorial race in 2013 and later pursued the presidency in 2022. His 2022 attempt did not result in a place on the presidential ballot following the dispute over his nomination. Citizen+1

His 2027 campaign therefore represents a continuation of a political project he has pursued for several years.

In 2025, he described his campaign as one centred on integrity and character, arguing that voters should pay attention not only to political promises but also to the conduct and values of those seeking office. K24 Digital

Political temperature rises ahead of 2027

With the next General Election approaching, statements such as Kigame's are likely to add to an increasingly competitive political conversation.

President William Ruto is expected to be a central figure in the 2027 contest, while several opposition and independent political figures are positioning themselves for the election. Maraga has formally entered the race, while other politicians have also explored presidential bids.

Kigame's latest message places him firmly within the group of politicians seeking to challenge the political status quo.

Whether his campaign ultimately translates into a successful presidential nomination and ballot position will depend on the applicable electoral requirements and processes as the election approaches. His 2022 experience illustrates the importance of meeting those requirements: the IEBC previously rejected his presidential nomination, leading to a prolonged legal dispute. IEBC

For now, Kigame's message is unmistakable: he intends to keep his political campaign alive and is positioning himself as a critic of the country's established political leadership.

His latest declaration — “your time is up” — is therefore likely to attract attention as Kenya's political class gradually moves toward the 2027 election cycle.

The 2027 race is still developing, and the final field of presidential candidates will only become clearer as parties conduct nominations and the electoral process progresses.