People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has officially declared her intention to run for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
She has, however, promised that she will serve only a single term if elected.
Speaking during the party's National Delegates Conference (NDC) Friday, Karua said her decision was not driven by personal ambition but by a deep devotion to public service and the need to restore trust in Kenya’s democratic institutions.
“Today, before you, I declare my candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic of Kenya in the next General Election under the banner of the People’s Liberation Party and within a united opposition," she announced.
She added "We make this declaration not out of mere ambition for office, but out of devotion to service."
Karua went on to state that her leadership agenda could be achieved within five years, arguing that no leader can fully solve Kenya’s challenges in a single tenure, but a firm foundation can be laid.
“I believe that in five years it is possible to lay a foundation. Nobody will ever finish the job of making Kenya prosperous. You lay a foundation and you wait for the next team to further it. So, I want to open by saying: I’ll be seeking one term,” she said.
She framed her single-term pledge as part of a broader campaign to “demystify power” in Kenya and across Africa, where she said leaders often cling to office.
“So that others don’t think ‘one term’ is an insult, I stand before you to tell you that we must demystify power in Kenya, in East Africa and in Africa. People get to power and they refuse to leave. Martha Karua, yours truly, is seeking a single term, one term,” she said.
Karua also announced plans by the opposition to launch the “One People, One Purpose, One Term” movement in the coming weeks, signaling the start of a wider campaign aimed at uniting Kenyans around integrity, justice, and accountability.
“Kenyans are hurting, and Kenyans deserve better. But let me say this clearly, we shall not walk this road alone,” she affirmed, calling on citizens and opposition leaders to rally behind her vision.
Her announcement now opens the door to a fierce internal showdown in the united opposition camp.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has also announced his bid.
