Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni on Wednesday, February 5, expounded on the latest move by the Jubilee party to endorse Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the upcoming 2027 polls.
Kioni stated that Matiang'i's role as former President Uhuru's right-hand man especially in the latter years of his tenure solidified his credentials as the right man to lead the country in the next polls.
"When William decided to go and do campaigns the person who was left deputising or helping Uhuru was Fred Matiang'i," Kioni stated.
"He knows why we were doing with Huduma Number, what we were doing with HELB, and what we wanted to do with CBC. When we talked about all these stalled projects in the country, he knows them. We want a person who can help us make a U-turn Day One," he added.
Kioni's remarks came after it reportedly emerged that Jubilee party leader Uhuru had given his blessing to Matiang'i in a meeting attended by influential members of Uhuru's inner circle.
“They (Uhuru & co) said that they would be happy if Kenyans would accept Matiang'i as their Jubilee presidential candidate,” Kioni stated.
The reported high-level meeting included Kenyatta, Matiang’i, Kioni, former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, and former head of the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Andrew Wakahiu.
In the meeting that also included Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Uhuru reportedly also gave direction to Matiang’i to close ranks with other political leaders opposing President Ruto’s administration, amongst them Rigathi Gachagua.
“They have also emphasised the need to ensure that we are working with other like-minded leaders who also believe that UDA (United Democratic Alliance) have mismanaged the affairs of this country,” he added.
Explaining the move to work with Gachagua, Kioni stated that the former DP’s robust resolve to keep the government in check since his exit from the corridors of power was admirable and highly beneficial in the race to State House.
“Rigathi is doing some commendable work. I do not know if anyone has the capacity to do what he has done (since his exit) and that is someone we would like to have on board,” the SG stated.
Aside from endorsing Matiang’i, Uhuru advised the members of the Opposition to not be so quick to form a coalition but first focus on forming political parties that will give them a firm foundation to build alliances.
The latest move by Uhuru is expected to bring a spanner in the works as the race for the 2027 General Elections gathers steam with leaders from different quarters crafting their roadmaps to the polls.
It also appears to indicate Uhuru’s softened stance towards Gachagua who relentlessly launched scathing attacks on the former President in the 2022 General Elections campaign trail. Gachagua later apologised and recognized Uhuru as the Mt. Kenya kingpin.
The latest development comes at a time when Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua appeared to join hands as they aimed to oust Ruto from the top seat. However, each leader has remained coy on any formal alliance opting to focus on making Ruto a one-term president instead. Details of who would lead the alliance if formed have also remained vague.
For his part, Ruto insisted that he faces no threat in the upcoming polls noting that his competition is his development track record. The current President, who appears to have closed ranks with Raila Odinga, maintained that he would claim a sweeping victory in the 2027 ballot.
