Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i. Photo/Newsflash
By Wanderi Kamau
It is official now that former Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i will be on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.
While it is not clear on which party Dr Matiang’i will contest the presidency on, Newsflash has learnt that two parties are being considered.
The parties are Jubilee, led by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by Nyamira governor Amos Nyaribo.
The possibility of Matiang’i vying on the Jubilee ticket was hinted by the party’s Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni on Thursday, 23 January, 2025.
During an interview with Inooro FM, Kioni hinted that Matiang’i is a member of the party and “has enjoyed a lot goodwill”.
“For the record, Jubilee will field a presidential candidate in 2027. I do not want to pre-empt everything at the moment, but Matiang’i has a lot of support from the party and Kenyans in general,” said Kioni.
Since his name started popping as a possible presidential candidate mid-2024, Matiang’i has been making calculative public appearances.
So far, he has visited Kitui and Kiambu counties.
In Kitui, Matiangi visited the family of his long-serving bodyguard, Christopher Wambua, on 20 December, who died in September, last year.
In Kiambu, he was at Ituru village on 15 January, during the burial of Joyce Gathoni, mother to David Gacheru, the former Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC.
Besides Jubilee, sources told Newsflash that UPA is also considering Matiang’i as its 2027 presidential flagbearer, given that it has its roots in the Gusii region.
The party has already started rebranding its colours.
Last year, Matiang’i contracted a Canadian firm, Dickens & Madson, to research and evaluate the suitability of his presidential bid.
On Friday, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka confirmed that the Gusii community will have a presidential candidate in 2027.
