By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
The battle for the Gusii political crown is set to intensify following the appointment of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as Jubilee Party Deputy Leader on Thursday, 30 October. Matiang’i, whose presidential ambitions for 2027 were endorsed by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) during a meeting chaired by Party Leader Uhuru Kenyatta at the Jubilee headquarters in Nairobi, is positioning himself as the leading political force in the Gusii region as part of his wider State House bid. However, he faces growing rivalry from Kisii Governor Simba Arati.
While Arati, who also serves as ODM Deputy Party Leader, warmly welcomed Matiang’i in May when he returned from the United States for a consultative tour of the region, the two have since drifted apart. Arati now appears determined to remain in the Orange party to help strengthen it in the post-Raila Odinga era.
This was evident on 25 October when the governor travelled alone to Kango ka Jaramogi, escorted by motorcycle riders, to pay homage to his former party leader six days after his burial. In contrast, when Matiang’i visited Raila’s Opoda farm home and gravesite two days later, he was accompanied by several Gusii leaders from across the political divide, including former Cabinet ministers Sam Ongeri, Chris Obure, and Ezekiel Machogu; Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo; Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka; and Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo.
Earlier, during Mashujaa Day celebrations, Arati surprised many when he publicly invited President William Ruto to return to ODM and vie on its ticket in 2027, saying that would fulfil Raila’s dream of the party producing a president. “The President yesterday said he will ensure that ODM remains strong. I want to urge him today, Mheshimiwa Ruto, you were a founding member of ODM. How I wish you could come back to your former party,” the governor said.
He repeated the same call in Kisumu after visiting Bondo, extending the invitation to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. “Mimi kama Deputy Party Leader, tumeambia William Ruto, Mheshimiwa Uhuru Kenyatta hata Kalonzo walikuwa ODM. Tunawaambia kwa kumpa heshima Baba, waje tujiunge pamoja katika ODM. Chama cha ODM lazima kishinde kura 2027 ndiposa Baba atubariki tukiendelea mbele,” Arati told a cheering crowd in the lakeside city.
While it is true that Uhuru, Ruto, and Kalonzo were all aligned with Raila after the 2005 defeat of the proposed constitution, which gave rise to ODM and ODM-Kenya (now Wiper Democratic Movement), they have since taken divergent political paths. It therefore remains unlikely that their interests will converge again ahead of the 2027 elections.
At present, Ruto leads the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the dominant party in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, while Uhuru heads Jubilee, which is fronting Matiang’i as its presidential candidate under the emerging United Opposition alliance. Kalonzo, meanwhile, is also seeking endorsement as the opposition’s single flag bearer through his Wiper party.
Matiang’i has been under pressure from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), to unite the Gusii community under one political vehicle before negotiations on a joint opposition candidate.
Gachagua reportedly prefers Matiang’i not to run on a Jubilee ticket, fearing it might undermine his own efforts to consolidate DCP’s support in the Mt Kenya region, and instead form his own party. It remains to be seen how Gachagua will respond to Jubilee’s move to endorse Matiang’i as its flagbearer. Matiang’i’s elevation to Deputy Party Leader gives him a strategic platform to popularise the party as he campaigns for the presidency. Analysts say Jubilee is also likely to become the preferred party for many candidates in Gusiiland and other regions with significant Gusii populations.
His ability to rally senior community leaders behind him gives him an early advantage as he seeks to position himself as the undisputed Gusii political kingpin ahead of 2027, particularly if he secures the United Opposition ticket or leads Jubilee into the polls independently.
Several former and current elected leaders have already declared support for him, including those allied to UDA such as South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North), Alfah Miruka (Bomachoge Chache) and Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache).
Although elected on a UDA ticket, North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko has also joined the pro-Matiang’i camp. Conversely, West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka, elected on a Jubilee ticket, has distanced himself from Matiang’i’s candidacy, instead urging Uhuru to persuade Ruto to offer him a government post.
According to Dr Osoro Nyakweba, who heads a lobby group of Gusii professionals based in Nairobi and Kajiado, Matiang’i is on the right path to consolidating regional leadership. “Kingpins are not elected; they emerge by attracting and mobilising support from their community and leaders. Governor Arati has become a lone ranger, which will take him nowhere. Dr Matiang’i, on the other hand, has done well in consulting key leaders, positioning himself as the region’s ultimate spokesman, just like Simeon Nyachae, Andrew Omanga and James Nyamweya before him,” he told The Weekly Vision by phone.
Dr Osoro predicts that, just as in 2002 when Ford People swept all seats in the region after Nyachae joined the presidential race, the community might again vote in a uniform pattern if Matiang’i actualises his plan and becomes a presidential candidate.
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