The urgent need for President William Ruto to enlist new political allies to counter Dr Fred Matiang’i’s growing influence in Kisii and Nyamira counties has become increasingly clear since Matiang’i declared his presidential candidacy for 2027. This bold announcement has ignited widespread reactions across Kenya’s political spectrum.
Much like the seismic shift witnessed during the 2002 elections, when Simon Nyachae’s presidential campaign left an indelible mark on Kisii politics, Matiang’i’s entry into the race is poised to unleash a formidable political wave in the Gusii region.
Prominent ODM figures from the region have already thrown their weight behind Matiang’i, unsettling Ruto’s camp, which had long presumed that its political partnership with ODM leader Raila Odinga would secure the entire Kisii voting bloc.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka is among those who have publicly endorsed Matiang’i, joined by a growing list of ODM-aligned politicians, leaving President Ruto’s UDA party with alarmingly scant support across the Gusii heartland.
To effectively neutralize the Matiang’i surge, political analysts contend that Ruto must urgently recruit new, influential allies capable of stemming the tide. At present, Minority Whip Silvanus Osoro stands as the lone figure entrusted with containing the situation, a role many observers believe he is ill-equipped to manage single-handedly.
The absence of former Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, now Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda, has been keenly felt in Ruto’s political machinery. Many in the region argue that Maangi’s withdrawal from the local political scene has left a conspicuous vacuum, weakening Ruto’s grip on Kisii and Nyamira counties.
Calls are growing louder for Ruto to recall Maangi and redeploy him to a more politically active post, such as Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary, which would enable him to re-enter the fray more effectively.
Speculation abounds over who Maangi might replace and whether he would be willing to relinquish a prestigious diplomatic post for the murky waters of domestic politics.
Pundits suggest that Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba could be the most likely casualty of such a reshuffle, yet it remains to be seen whether Ruto has the political courage to make such a bold move.
Nonetheless, a consensus is emerging among analysts: to counter the burgeoning Matiang’i phenomenon, Ruto requires a political heavyweight of Maangi’s calibre. Maangi, a shrewd and astute operator who previously served two terms as Kisii’s Deputy Governor, is widely recognized as a resilient political actor capable of commanding significant local support.
Insiders reveal that, with Senator Onyonka now poised to challenge incumbent Governor Simba Arati in 2027, Maangi could emerge as Ruto’s strongest contender for the gubernatorial seat, offering a vital foothold in the region.
However, even as these manoeuvres unfold, it remains uncertain whether Matiang’i’s candidacy will ultimately upend Ascendancy will ultimately upend the political order in Kisii or merely reconfigure it.
