Owalo Launches People’s Prosperity Party, Pledges to Tackle Poverty in 2027 Presidential Bid
By ATN
NAIROBI, July 8, 2026 — Millions of Kenyans struggling with poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living took centre stage on Wednesday as former Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo launched the People’s Prosperity Party (PPP) and declared his bid for the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking at the unveiling of the party’s headquarters, Ustawi House, in Nairobi, Owalo said he was seeking the country’s top seat to break what he described as decades of politics that have failed to improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
“Today, I officially announce that I intend to seek the presidency of the Republic of Kenya on the People’s Prosperity Party,” he said, promising to champion an economic agenda that would create prosperity for all.
Owalo framed his campaign around the daily struggles facing many households, saying millions of Kenyans continue to lack decent jobs, affordable healthcare, clean water and adequate housing despite the country’s more than six decades of independence.
He argued that while political freedom was achieved in 1963, many citizens still live without economic dignity.
According to Owalo, nearly 20 million Kenyans live below the poverty line, millions cannot afford nutritious meals, while others continue to struggle to access quality healthcare and safe drinking water. He said those figures reflect families whose lives have been shaped by hardship rather than opportunity.
The former Cabinet Secretary also criticised the country’s widening wealth gap, arguing that a small group of wealthy individuals continues to accumulate resources while millions of hardworking Kenyans remain trapped in poverty.
He said the current economic system disadvantages farmers, fishermen, artisans, informal traders, factory workers and construction workers, who produce much of the country’s wealth but earn the least from their labour.
“The producer sweats, but the broker prospers,” Owalo said, adding that middlemen and other players capture most of the profits while primary producers shoulder the greatest risks.
He pledged to reform agricultural and blue economy value chains by expanding local processing, storage, branding and export capacity. Such reforms, he said, would allow producers to earn more from what they grow, catch and manufacture while creating jobs for young people.
Owalo said farmers should not have to sell tea, coffee and fish at low prices only for others to make the biggest profits through processing, packaging and marketing.
He also called for broader measures to address economic marginalisation, saying communities need more than roads, water and electricity. Access to affordable credit, markets, processing facilities, jobs and business opportunities, he said, would help lift families out of poverty.
Throughout his address, Owalo maintained that Kenya’s challenges do not stem from a lack of hard work but from an economic system that has denied many citizens a fair share of the country’s wealth.
He praised farmers, fishermen, artisans, informal traders and young people for keeping the economy running despite limited opportunities and persistent financial challenges.
As political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election gathers pace, Owalo said the People’s Prosperity Party would campaign on a platform of inclusive economic growth, constitutional governance and equitable wealth creation.
He said his administration would seek to build an economy where hard work translates into better incomes and improved living standards for ordinary Kenyans rather than enriching a privileged few.
