Can a political outsider become the president?

The article from The Star titled Can a political outsider become the president? explores whether someone outside Kenya’s established political elite can realistically mount a credible bid for the presidency.
The piece focuses on activist-turned-aspirant Boniface Mwangi, who is positioning himself as a non‐traditional candidate ahead of the 2027 election. He frames his campaign around participatory democracy, anti‐corruption, and mobilising youth and diaspora.
Despite his grassroots visibility and appeal among younger Kenyans, the article highlights significant structural hurdles: absence of a traditional political machine, the dominance of tribal/ethnic vote blocs, and historical trends where outsiders struggle against entrenched elites
It places the Kenyan case in a broader African context, noting examples where activists or reformists have broken through—but emphasises that the Kenyan system continues to favour insiders with established networks.
Yes — it’s possible for a political outsider to become president in Kenya, but very challenging given current realities. The article provides both optimism (youth mobilisation, demand for change) and a strong dose of realism (structural barriers, patronage networks).
On the plus side: Kenyan voters—especially younger generations—are showing signs of frustration with the old guard, which opens space for new actors.
On the minus side: The systems of coalition-building, ethnic block-politics and financial/network advantages remain deeply ingrained. As one commentary noted: outsiders never go anywhere in presidential contests — the presidency has owners.
Moreover, historical attempts by reformists have often ended in negligible vote shares.
If an outsider is to succeed in Kenya, several things need to align:
Building a credible national campaign infrastructure (not just protest momentum).
Crafting alliances that cut across ethnicity/regions, or offer a compelling alternative to tribal logics.
Mobilising sufficient resources (financial, organisational) to compete at scale.
Sustained engagement with voters (especially youth) so that the outsider brand becomes credible as leadership, not just protest identity.
Possibly, timing and favourable political conditions (e.g., major discontent with incumbents) may tip the balance.
In short: while the article doesn’t conclude that an outsider will win, it shows the pathway is narrowing and the barriers are real—but not insurmountable.