Jimi Wanjigi, the newly appointed leader of the Safina Party, has called for a “Debt Rebellion,” warning that every shilling spent on debt repayment is a shilling stolen from Kenya’s future.

In a post on X, dated September 22, 2025, Wanjigi stated, “Our journey begins with courage, the courage to say NO to odious debt. Every shilling spent on debt is a shilling stolen from our future as Kenyans. With the FIST Agenda, we declare Debt Rebellion: Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay! From survival economics to true sovereignty, this is where the Economic Revolution begins.”

The statement highlights his push for immediate reforms targeting the country’s debt management and economic policies.

Wanjigi’s remarks come after Former Chief Justice David Maraga said that public debt had spiralled out of control since 2013, rising to unimaginable levels and warned that unless it was addressed, Kenya risked defaulting, which would lead to consequences never seen before.

FIST agenda

The remarks come shortly after the Safina Party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) on September 18, 2025, at Ngong Racecourse, where outgoing leader Paul Muite handed over the party leadership to Wanjigi. The ceremony highlighted a commitment to urgent reforms, with Muite emphasising that the changes “cannot wait until the next elections.”

The FIST Agenda, which stands for universal health coverage, free education, repudiation of odious debts, and police reforms, is framed as a blueprint to empower Kenyans through an economic revolution and enhanced governance.

Debt and governance

Safina Deputy Leader Willis Otieno echoed Wanjigi’s concerns on September 20, 2025, questioning the legitimacy of loans taken by the state, particularly the 2014 Eurobond.

Otieno argued that Kenyans should not be burdened with repaying debts that have no visible benefits, asking, “Where are these funds, and how exactly were they utilised? Why should Kenyans be forced to repay debts when we have no trace of the projects they allegedly financed? This is budgeted corruption dressed up as loans.”

The party’s renewed focus on accountability also includes proposals for elected OCPDs and People’s Boards at police stations, aligning with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030. Wanjigi’s leadership positions the FIST Agenda as a roadmap for reclaiming economic sovereignty, ensuring transparency in debt management, and challenging the current economic trajectory.

Also, recently, Otieno took a hardline stance against Parliament, accusing it of betraying the Kenyan people by turning a blind eye to what he described as a massive heist of public funds through the eCitizen platform.