​​​​​​​NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenyan prominent rights activist Boniface Mwangi announced Wednesday that he will run for president in the 2027 general elections.

He pledged to challenge the entrenched political class and bring an activist’s voice into the State House.

Mwangi laid out his policy vision at Nairobi’s Ufungamano House, pledging to prioritize quality health care, free schooling, accountability and justice for victims of state brutality and reliable access to basic needs such as clean water.

“Today, on Katiba Day, I announce my bid for the presidency in 2027. The future of our country is in our hands and no one else's,” he said. Katiba Day, the anniversary of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, was recently designated by President William Ruto as a national observance, not a public holiday, to be marked with civic activities across government institutions, schools and diplomatic missions, reaffirming Kenyans’ commitment to constitutional governance.

Mwangi, 42, rose to prominence after documenting the 2007 - 2008 post-election violence as a photojournalist. His work earned him international recognition but also put him at odds with powerful political figures.

In the years that followed, he spearheaded anti-corruption campaigns, organized youth-led protests and became a vocal critic of successive governments, branding Kenya’s politics as dominated by dynasties and patronage networks.

Mwangi’s declaration comes at a time when street protests, often led by Gen Z activists, have rattled the political establishment. Observers note that his candidacy could galvanize a protest vote into political momentum or expose the limits of activism in electoral politics.

Kenyans head to the polls in 2027 in what is expected to be another fiercely contested election, with Ruto seeking a second term.