By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i is facing mounting pressure to abandon former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party and either join another political outfit or form his own as he prepares to contest the presidency.
Dr. Matiang’i, who recently resigned from his position at the World Bank in Washington to pursue his political ambitions, has long been associated with Jubilee since his return to Kenya. Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni had even declared him Jubilee’s preferred presidential candidate long before Matiang’i formally expressed interest in the race.
Speculation intensified when Matiang’i attended Jubilee’s recent National Delegates Conference presided over by Uhuru, where the former Head of State suggested that the party could field its own presidential candidate if talks with like-minded formations failed. This appeared to confirm that Matiang’i enjoys the backing of Uhuru.
Yet the association is proving to be a double-edged sword. While Jubilee’s support could secure significant backing from the Mt Kenya region, particularly if Uhuru outmanoeuvres former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), the move risks weakening Matiang’i in his Kisii stronghold. Local leaders and voters there are increasingly insisting that he consolidate support through a home-grown party before entering national coalitions.
Reports indicate growing unease among residents of Kisii and Nyamira counties, as well as diaspora communities in Nairobi and Kajiado. Many fear Matiang’i could stumble into the same political trap that ensnared Gachagua after President William Ruto’s 2022 victory.
Gachagua, who served as Ruto’s running mate on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, later admitted that he regretted the decision, claiming he was politically isolated when relations with Ruto soured and an impeachment bid against him gained traction. He has since argued that he would have been stronger in both the Executive and Parliament had he contested under his own party with elected MPs. “We are totally opposed to him joining Jubilee,” said Dr Enosh Osoro Nyakweba, patron of Gusii Professionals in Nairobi, in an interview with The Weekly Vision. “Matiang’i must come home and identify with one of the home-grown parties before entering talks with Jubilee on a coalition basis. We don’t want him to suffer the same fate as Gachagua. We must learn from the mistakes of others.”
Dr Osoro, a former Director of Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife who has played roles in past campaigns, suggested that Matiang’i could join the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo. From there, he could build an alliance with other Kisii-rooted parties such as the Kenya Social Congress (KSC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Assistant Minister Omino Magara, to strengthen his bargaining power.
Not all analysts share this view. Lawyer and political commentator Suyianka Lempaa told The Weekly Vision that Matiang’i’s alignment with Jubilee should be welcomed. “The reason Jubilee has been weak is because its members know Uhuru Kenyatta cannot return as president after serving his two five-year terms. They need someone who represents the party’s future. Uhuru should hand over the reins and step into an advisory role,” he said.
Lempaa, however, warned that Matiang’i must abandon his technocratic image if he is to resonate with voters. “Kenyans are bitter, and the person currently speaking for them is Gachagua. Matiang’i must leave the boardrooms and big hotels, climb onto vehicles, and start addressing the everyday struggles of ordinary Kenyans,” he added.
The issue of a home-grown party resurfaced on 1 October when Gachagua again challenged Matiang’i to form a Kisii-based outfit. “I told my friend Matiang’i to go and form a Kisii party so that he can consolidate his votes and bring them to the table. I have already consolidated Mt Kenya votes, seven million strong. But how many votes will Matiang’i bring? Even Simba Arati and Osoro are fighting him. It will be difficult for him to be the flagbearer with only one million votes, and worse still if he relies solely on Jubilee,” Gachagua said.
His remarks echoed concerns raised by Kioni, who accused Gachagua of trying to intimidate Matiang’i by setting terms for his involvement in opposition coalition talks. “They have told Matiang’i openly, ‘Don’t join Jubilee.’ At one time, Gachagua even told him, go to Kisii and bring a village party so that we can negotiate,” Kioni said.
With regional dynamics, personal rivalries, and shifting alliances at play, Matiang’i now stands at a political crossroads. The decision he makes in the coming weeks could determine whether he emerges as a serious State House contender or risks being sidelined like others before him.
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