'My presidency will be radical and disruptive,' Reuben Kigame declares

Presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame has unveiled his vision for Kenya’s top office, promising to shake up the country’s governance with a leadership style that he describes as radical, disruptive, and people-centered.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive show on Wednesday night, the veteran musician and activist said his candidacy would offer Kenyans a break from the dominance of tribal politics and end the recycling of seasoned politicians by bringing fresh blood into the political arena.

Kigame, who unsuccessfully contested the presidency in the last election as an independent candidate, said this time he will run on a party ticket and intends to run a campaign that puts education, media freedom, inclusivity, and good governance at the heart of his manifesto. 

“My presidency will be disruptive; I am a radical disruptor. We want to change the way politics and leadership in Kenya have been for a long time,” he said. 

“I want to bring to the presidency someone who's never been in office and that's critical. I want to bring to the presidency different fields that are my constituencies. I'm not a tribalist.”

He stressed the need to restore education at the forefront of the country's development, referencing the late former President Mwai Kibaki's tenure. 

“I want teachers at the centre. I taught at Mary Hill High School, I worked with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), resigned and even now I teach part-time at Africa International University. I want education to go back to where it was and even better,” Kigame said.

Further, the social activist vowed to defend press freedom by bringing an end to assaults on journalists. He also pledged to mainstream the leadership of persons with disabilities.

"I want to mainstream persons living with disability. It's assumed that if you have a disability, you can't lead, yet history is full of people with disabilities who led," he remarked.

"Tim Wanyonyi, Crystal Asige…Kibaki was sworn-in in a wheelchair. Those who think that persons with disability can't lead have another case to try here."

Kigame added that the most vital attribute he would bring would be “values” to the presidency; a quality that, he noted, is lacking in the current political field. 

"I want to bring the most important thing, values, because that's one thing every politician wants to avoid. Article 10, Chapter, Article 232. All these speak about values. You can't do government without values," he stated.