Former Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Eliud Owalo, has confirmed his decision to resign from government to pursue the presidency in 2027.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s live show with Jeff Koinange on Sunday, February 1, Owalo said his resignation was a vote of confidence in his own abilities, not borne out of bitterness.
“I have made up my mind. I do not work with anybody in secrecy,” Owalo said, explaining that leaving his role at the upper echelons of William Ruto’s government allows him to engage in national politics freely. He added that his tenure as CS ICT brought transformative results, boosting daily government revenue from KSh 60 million to between KSh 900 million and KSh 1 billion through digitalization.
Owalo outlined his policy agenda, promising to reform taxation and reduce the burden on ordinary Kenyans.
“I will bring down income tax from 35% to 20%, VAT from 16% to 10%, and abolish digital tax,” he said.
The ex-presidential advisor emphasized that his approach to politics would focus on national interest rather than ethnic alliances.
“I will not be part of arrangements where politicians convene for convenience, dividing the country along ethnic lines,” Owalo said, citing current government negotiations with political families as a key reason for his exit.
He also expressed openness to working with leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka if it serves the common citizen, stressing honesty and pragmatism as his leadership and governance guiding principles.
A self-declared risk-taker and visionary, #Owalo believes his leadership could deliver the “real change” Kenya has been yearning for many years, positioning himself as a bold contender for the nation’s top seat in 2027.
He expressed optimism that, with support from Kenyans, he will unseat the incumbent, his former boss.