Wanjigi praises Muite for passing on Safina Party leadership to him
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 9, 2025Businessman and 2027 presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi has commended senior counsel Paul Muite for handing over the leadership of the Safina Party to him.
During an interview on a local radio station, Wanjigi described Muite as a statesman and a liberator who has diligently nurtured the party for the past three decades.
He noted that the Safina Party, founded in the early 1990s, has played a key role in shaping Kenya’s political landscape, especially in the fight for multiparty democracy and constitutional reforms.
Wanjigi praised Muite for his selfless leadership and for being one of the heroes of Kenya’s second liberation.
He expressed gratitude that Muite and the party’s top officials had unanimously endorsed him as the new party leader, entrusting him with the responsibility of steering Safina into what he termed the next phase of liberation the economic liberation of Kenya.
“And he has transited that leadership to me, and his whole team has accepted my leadership, believing that we are the ones now that can usher in the next liberation, which is the economic liberation. Right, a different agenda, a different way forward. So we are very excited. I finally have a party,” Wanjigi said.
He added that assuming the party’s leadership marks a new chapter in his political journey, giving him a solid platform to advance his vision and reform agenda for the country.
Wanjigi said that under his stewardship, Safina Party will focus on addressing economic challenges, promoting inclusive governance, and offering Kenyans a fresh alternative for the nation’s transformation.
The handing-over ceremony was held at Ngong Racecourse during the party’s NDC on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Muite handed over the party’s constitution and the members’ registry, and then later a staff akin to the one used by Moses while leading the Israelites out of Egypt to symbolise the change of leadership and continuity of the party under Wanjigi.
Safina party history
The Safina Party, meaning “Ark” in Swahili, is a political party founded in May 1995 by paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and lawyer Paul Muite, symbolising a vessel for national unity and reform.
Although less prominent in recent years and remaining inactive, the party’s silence was broken in the run-up to the 2022 general election after presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi was chased out of ODM and joined the party.