NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 3 – Over the last few years, Nairobi-based businessman Kevin Otiende has been supporting youth and women set up businesses and children from various backgrounds get education by paying their school fees.
All these could have been seen to be a matter of philanthropy, until a recent post made on his social media platforms.
Announcing he is about to privatize his personal accounts and hire dedicated resources, Otiende said “…My new social media team will be fully funded by my international friends who have asked to support me to run for office in 2027. I will visit every part of Kenya and talk to citizens direct. God will decide the rest,” he said.
Originally thought to be interested in either the Nairobi Governor or Senate position, a move that would see him unseat current Governor Johnson Sakaja or Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the fact that he alluded to traversing the country seems to suggest he may have bigger ambitions to run for the Presidency.
Known as a prolific mobilizer, Kevin Otiende has cut out a name for himself as a man out to end poverty by connecting Kenyan youth and women to job opportunities and avenues to grow businesses in many parts of the country.
A close confidante who sought anonymity as he is not authorized to comment of the matter said the businessman has been fielding “unprecedented interest and support for his candidacy,” and may finally be bowing to pressure to run if recent happenings are anything to go by.
“Those of us who have known him from when he was young know that there’s always been a sense that he could be preparing for high leadership,” another source said. “He has always wanted to make a change especially with regards to job creation and key development matters. Is he the person for the job? That remains to be seen,” he added.
If he runs for the Nairobi top seat, Kevin Otiende will face a myriad of pressing issues including tackling soaring youth unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, city waste management as well as access to healthcare.
