Amina Halake, wife of former presidential candidate Abduba Dida, has declared her intention to run for president in 2027, stepping into the political spotlight through a party her husband once led.
Speaking during a TV47 interview on Monday night, Amina announced that she will contest under the Alliance for Change party, the same political vehicle Dida used in the 2013 and 2017 elections. She revealed that recent internal party elections resulted in her becoming the new party leader, replacing her husband.
Amina previously served as the party's secretary general and said her experience in that role, combined with her behind-the-scenes involvement in Dida’s past campaigns, has fully prepared her for presidential leadership.
"I was party secretary general and his wife at the same time. I handled almost everything—from campaigning to managing his welfare at home. So, there is nothing I don't know about strategy and running a campaign," she said.
She added that the leadership shift within the party marks a broader change in direction. Although she hasn't had an in-depth conversation with Dida about her political plans, she confirmed that he is aware of the leadership transition and her decision to take over party affairs.
"We haven’t had much of a discussion about it, but he knows I’m the one moving forward with the party. He’s aware of the recent elections and the changes in leadership," Amina explained.
While she has set her sights on the 2027 race, Amina said she is not certain whether Dida will also attempt a comeback. “Old habits die hard,” she remarked, suggesting he might still be considering it.
Dida is currently in the United States, having been released in April 2025 from Big Muddy Correctional Centre in Illinois. He had been serving a seven-year sentence handed down in 2021 for stalking and threatening his American wife in Illinois, a case that also involved the violation of a restraining order.
His family said the violation happened when he went to pray at a mosque that was within a restricted area. According to them, the mosque was also frequented by his wife, Mama Lila, which inadvertently placed him in breach of the court order.
Amina’s candidacy now positions her as a new face in Kenyan presidential politics, taking forward a party once led by her husband.
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