City lawyer and LSK Council member Steve Mbugua has officially declared his candidature for the Dagoretti South parliamentary seat, setting the stage for a titanic battle with incumbent John Kiarie.

The race for 2027 has begun in earnest in Dagoretti South. Steve Mbugua Wanjiru, a youthful advocate who gained national prominence representing protesters during the Gen Z demonstrations of 2024, has thrown his hat in the ring. His entry promises to shake up the constituency's politics, pitting a fresh-faced challenger against a seasoned incumbent.

Mbugua, who currently sits on the Council of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), announced he would not seek re-election to the lawyers' body, choosing instead to focus entirely on his parliamentary ambitions. He describes his bid as a "higher calling" to rescue Dagoretti South from what he terms as stagnation.

The Gen Z Factor

Mbugua's profile rose sharply during the anti-government protests in June 2024, where he was a fixture at police stations and courtrooms, securing the release of arguably hundreds of detained youths. He is banking on this track record of human rights defence to galvanize the youth vote.

• Candidate: Steve Mbugua Wanjiru
• Target Seat: Dagoretti South MP
• Incumbent: John Kiarie (KJ)
• Platform: Youth leadership, Accountability, Justice

"We cannot continue to recycle leadership that has lost touch with the common man," Mbugua told supporters. "It is time for a new chapter."

The incumbent, John Kiarie, famously known as 'KJ', will now face his stiffest test yet. As the political drums begin to beat, the message from Mbugua is clear: "Dagoretti deserves better."