Presidential race

The candidates on the issues

What each candidate has done, or says they would do, on the issues Kenyans say decide their vote, in the order voters ranked them. Every line comes from the candidate's record on this site, with a tag for how strong the evidence is.

• Cost of living 46% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoDSigned the Finance Act 2023, which doubled VAT on fuel from 8% to 16% from 1 July 2023. After a sharp fuel price rise in April 2026 he cut it back to 8% for three months.
  • Edwin SifunaSCut taxes on ordinary Kenyans within 100 days, through a supplementary budget, and cut State House spending (July 2026).
  • David MaragaSSays the tax burden falls on low- and middle-income earners while revenue is lost to graft (April 2026).
  • Peter SalasyaDVoted no on the Finance Bill 2024 at second reading.
  • Kalonzo MusyokaSUrged voters to reject the Finance Bill 2026 and promises tax reform to ease the cost of living.
  • Rigathi GachaguaDChampioned the Finance Act 2023, which doubled fuel VAT and created the Housing Levy. He now promises lower taxes; that promise is not counted because his record contradicts it.
  • Martha KaruaSNo taxes on mobile money, internet services or digital platforms, and cut discretionary spending by over 60% (PLP alternative budget, June 2026).
  • Ndindi NyoroDVoted yes on the Finance Bill 2024 at second reading as Budget Committee chair. Missed the June 2026 Finance Bill vote and apologised for it.
  • Babu OwinoDVoted no on the Finance Bill 2024 at second reading.

  Nothing on record yet for Boniface Mwangi, Fred Matiang'i, Okiya Omtatah.

• Corruption 27% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoDSigned the Conflict of Interest Act on 30 July 2025, which makes public officers declare their interests and assets under EACC oversight.
  • Boniface MwangiSRecover stolen public money and prosecute leaders accused of looting.
  • Kalonzo MusyokaSHis Komboa Kenya agenda promises to recover stolen public money.
  • Fred Matiang'iSSays corruption in government has reached unprecedented levels and that public resources are unfairly shared (end-of-year message, 2025).
  • Rigathi GachaguaDA 2022 court order to forfeit Sh202 million was set aside by consent in January 2023, not decided on the merits. The opposition's September 2026 plan promises to revoke title deeds for about 150,000 acres of allegedly grabbed land.

  Nothing on record yet for Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Peter Salasya, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Healthcare 27% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoDReplaced NHIF with the Social Health Authority (SHA) in October 2024. The Treasury says over 31 million people had registered by June 2026. The Controller of Budget found SHA owed county health facilities Sh26.87 billion at 31 March 2026, more than three times the Sh8.29 billion owed three months earlier.
  • Edwin SifunaADisputes government claims that SHA works, saying Bungoma's governor told him county hospitals had not been paid. His account of a private conversation.
  • Peter SalasyaSSaid in February 2025 he was drafting a bill to scrap SHA and restore NHIF, and a motion to reverse the university funding model.
  • Kalonzo MusyokaSWould scrap SHA and return to NHIF: 'I would go back to NHIF and stop the stealing' (29 March 2026).
  • Rigathi GachaguaSLeads the opposition push to scrap SHA and restore NHIF, which Kindiki attacked in January 2026.
  • Martha KaruaSWould scrap SHA and the Housing Levy if elected (2026). Her alternative budget caps health contributions at Sh500 per family, the old NHIF rate, instead of 2.75% of pay.

  Nothing on record yet for David Maraga, Boniface Mwangi, Fred Matiang'i, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Education 26% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoDThe High Court declared his government's university funding model unconstitutional in December 2024. The Court of Appeal let it continue in March 2025 while the appeal is heard.
  • Boniface MwangiSFree education, health care and water for all (August 2025).
  • Fred Matiang'iDAs Education CS from December 2015 he overhauled the national exams council and cracked down on exam cheating.
  • Ndindi NyoroSFree basic education with school meals from January 2028, paid for by redirecting CDF and bursary money (People's Party).
  • Babu OwinoSFree education at every level, bigger HELB allocations, and free school meals for Nairobi public primary pupils.

  Nothing on record yet for Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah.

• Youth jobs 25% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoASays more than 500,000 young Kenyans have found work abroad through the government's labour-mobility programme (his own figure). He promised 3,000 to 5,000 overseas jobs a week in November 2023. A 2025 Senate probe reported fraud and exploitation of job seekers in the programme.
  • David MaragaSA Sh300 billion programme to put three million unemployed young people to work.

  Nothing on record yet for Edwin Sifuna, Boniface Mwangi, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Leadership integrity 23% of voters rank it top

  • David MaragaDLed the Supreme Court majority that annulled the August 2017 presidential election.
  • Martha KaruaDResigned as Justice Minister in April 2009 over judicial appointments made without her.

  Nothing on record yet for William Ruto, Edwin Sifuna, Boniface Mwangi, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i, Rigathi Gachagua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Economic management and debt 21% of voters rank it top

  • Edwin SifunaSWould return Mumias Sugar to public ownership (August 2026).
  • Okiya OmtatahDWent to court to stop the sale of Kenya Pipeline Company, arguing it was driven by IMF pressure. Interim orders were refused in February 2026.
  • Ndindi NyoroSUse oil and mineral revenue to deal with public debt, and stop off-book borrowing.

  Nothing on record yet for William Ruto, David Maraga, Boniface Mwangi, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Babu Owino.

• Security 16% of voters rank it top

  • Fred Matiang'iDRan Interior and the police from 2018 to 2022. Now promises a tough crackdown on political violence and 'goon nonsense' if elected (April 2026).
  • Rigathi GachaguaSThe opposition's 100-day plan (September 2026) promises zero tolerance for political violence and a crackdown on illicit brews.

  Nothing on record yet for William Ruto, Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Boniface Mwangi, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Devolution 11% of voters rank it top

  • Peter SalasyaSDefends the constituency and women's funds (CDF and NGAAF) against cuts.
  • Kalonzo MusyokaSWould raise the counties' share of national revenue from 15% to 35%.

  Nothing on record yet for William Ruto, Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Boniface Mwangi, Fred Matiang'i, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Affordable housing 3% of voters rank it top

  • William RutoDBrought in the Housing Levy in 2023. Estates are handed over in batches of a few hundred homes, such as 220 units at Chepalungu in September 2026, while Boma Yangu sign-ups passed one million by February 2026.
  • Okiya OmtatahDCo-petitioner in the case in which the High Court struck down the Housing Levy in November 2023. The levy came back under a separate law.

  Nothing on record yet for Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Boniface Mwangi, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

• Handouts and ethnic appeals

  • William RutoDBanned state officers from harambees on 5 July 2024, during the Finance Bill protests, but went on giving church donations, including a Sh100 million pledge to Jesus Winner Ministry in March 2025. The Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi turned down one of his donations in November 2024.
  • Boniface MwangiSSays he will campaign door to door and refuse alliances with ethnic power brokers.
  • Rigathi GachaguaDAs Deputy President he called the government a company with 'shareholders' and said those who voted for it should reap more, which critics read as favouring Mt Kenya. He first refused to apologise, then said it was not meant to be tribal and apologised.

  Nothing on record yet for Edwin Sifuna, David Maraga, Peter Salasya, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang'i, Martha Karua, Okiya Omtatah, Ndindi Nyoro, Babu Owino.

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