Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni on Wednesday, February 5, spoke about why the party is backing Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Kioni explained that Matiang’i, who served as former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s trusted ally, particularly in the final years of his presidency, has earned the credibility and experience needed to take on the challenge of leading the country.
Kioni highlighted that Matiang’i had stepped up when President Uhuru was campaigning, filling in as his deputy during those times.
“When William decided to focus on his campaigns, Fred Matiang’i was the one left supporting Uhuru, managing important projects like Huduma Number, HELB, and the CBC,” Kioni explained.
He added that Matiang’i has intimate knowledge of the key stalled national projects and is well-equipped to drive change from day one in office.
The endorsement of Matiang’i also has the backing of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who, according to reports, has given his blessing in a meeting attended by key members of his close circle.
Among those present at the meeting were Kenyatta, Matiang’i, Kioni, former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, former ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, former Presidential Delivery Unit head Andrew Wakahiu, and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka.
Kioni also revealed that Uhuru had directed Matiang’i to collaborate with other leaders who oppose Ruto’s administration, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“Uhuru and his team emphasized the need for us to unite with other leaders who share the view that UDA has mismanaged the country’s affairs,” Kioni stated.
Despite the partnership with Gachagua, Kioni praised the former deputy president for his efforts to hold the current government accountable since leaving office. “Rigathi is doing commendable work.
Not many people could have done what he has done, and that’s someone we would love to have on board,” Kioni remarked.
In addition to backing Matiang’i, Uhuru advised opposition leaders not to rush into forming a coalition but to first focus on building strong political parties that can serve as a solid foundation for future alliances.
This move by Uhuru could shake up the race for the 2027 general elections as various political leaders are already strategizing their campaigns.
It also suggests a potential softening of Uhuru’s stance towards Gachagua, who had been highly critical of the former president during the 2022 election campaigns.
Gachagua later apologized and acknowledged Uhuru as the leader of the Mt. Kenya region.
This latest development comes as Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua seem to be exploring the possibility of uniting to challenge Ruto in 2027.
However, they have not publicly confirmed any formal alliance yet, and they are focused on making Ruto a one-term president. The issue of leadership within this potential alliance remains uncertain.
President Ruto, for his part, has downplayed any threat from his opposition, stating that his main competition in the upcoming elections is his development track record.
He remains confident that his achievements will lead him to a sweeping victory in the 2027 elections.
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