The bubbly Nazlin Umar has disclosed to WoK that she will be running for the country’s top seat in 2027, and will be banking on her decorated career to woo Kenyans.
Political Career
Nazlin is a vocal advocate for good leadership and governance, virtues she notes fueled her quest for the presidency.
She was in the frontline of the opposition leading up to both the 2005 referendum and the one in 2010 that led to the birth of the new Constitution. In the 2005 referendum, she rallied across the nation as the sole female luminary in the Orange Democratic Movement to oppose the proposed 2005 that was backed by the government. With the political temperatures hitting fever pitch, the Kibaki government was handed a humiliating defeat. The Iron Lady also vocally opposed the coalition government that ruled between 2008 and 2012.
Nazlin contested the presidency in 2007 on a Workers Congress Party of Kenya. She came in sixth behind late President Mwai Kibaki, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Joseph Karani and Pastor Pius Muiru
She made an attempt in 2013 but was barred for failing to secure a certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
In 2017, she found that her name was missing from the list of voters, so the IEBC did not clear her for the presidential race, cutting short her bid.
She argued that the requirement to vie for presidency should be the same as vying for an MP seat.
The High Court had in 2021 declared null and void the requirement to have candidates running for MP seat to present degree certificates.
In a 16th December 2022 ruling, Justice Anthony Mrima ruled in her favour, declaring Section 22(2) of the Elections Act as unconstitutional. Though the ruling was a landmark decision, Nazlin argues that it was delivered way late after the elections and had sabotaged her presidential bid.