Matiang'i dares Ruto as he confirms run for President

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 2027 presidential race, positioning himself as a unifying figure capable of unseating President William Ruto.

The former CS says he has what it takes to put the country on a positive trajectory, and that he ticks the boxes of leadership the country needs to propel itself to greater heights.

“Kenya does not need an all-knowing saviour or ruler. It needs a hardworking, honest, consensus builder to mobilise the country and create a level of trust in the people.”

In an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, his first since word swirled around about his candidacy, Matiang’i said he is in advanced talks with multiple political parties.

He, however, remained non-committal on a single ticket, insisting that his campaign will be an effort driven by the coalition he is working on with opposition chiefs.

“I am not a member of any political party. I am currently in consultation with several political leaders across the board,” he said.

Matiang’i, who served as one of the most powerful ministers under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has spent the past two years away from the political limelight.

He briefly worked for the World Bank in Washington, DC, before resigning to focus on his presidential bid.

His return in June sparked speculation in the political scene, with Jubilee Party leaders openly endorsing him as their preferred candidate to stop Ruto’s second-term ambitions.

However, Matiang’i insists he is not rushing into formal alliances, indicating that several political parties are already in talks with him on the same.

“If I made a choice now and stuck to one political party, I would disadvantage others with whom I’m having discussions,” he said.

For the former CS, his emphasis is on the need for “exhaustive consultations” with stakeholders across the country’s political landscape.

“The official campaign period has not started. What we are doing now is building relations, institutions and getting to understand each other and share ideas.”

He denied being Uhuru Kenyatta’s project as touted in political circles. “Am I a project because I served in Uhuru’s Cabinet? I have not asked Uhuru whether or not I should run,” he said.

The 2027 election is already shaping up to be a battle of alliances, and Matiang’i is betting on a coalition plan to counter Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza machinery.

He confirmed meetings with at least eight parties, including Jubilee and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), but dismissed reports that he had settled on a vehicle.

“The reality is that we chose democracy and we have many political parties. In Kenya, we have more than 89 political parties, and that’s how Kenyans want to organise their politics for the time being.”

He acknowledged that the former ruling Jubilee Party and UPA have claimed him and expressed willingness to back him as their candidate.

The former CS exuded confidence in garnering support, adding that having served at the Interior docket, he knows the country like the back of his hand.

Despite his cautious take on the goings on, Jubilee has already anointed Matiang’i as its flagbearer.

Secretary general Jeremiah Kioni declared this at a recent delegates’ meeting in Kisii, fuelling speculation about Uhuru’s hand.

Pauline Njoroge, a top official in the Jubilee party and digital strategist, also affirmed the party’s interest in fielding Matiang’i.

Yet Matiang’i faces an uphill battle. Unlike Ruto or ODM leader Raila Odinga, he has never won an elective seat, relying instead on presidential appointments.

He also has to convince his allies in the opposition, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa, that he is the best bet.

Critics accuse him of authoritarian tendencies during his tenure at the Interior ministry, where he is accused of spearheading brutal police crackdowns on dissent.

He rebuffed criticism that the events were a blow to his bid, defending himself against alleged links to the Ruaraka land heist and the River Yala bodies' issue.

"My role was less than peripheral in the matter. To this day, I wonder why every time, my detractors and everyone who wants to insult me, comes up and calls me Ruaraka land thief," he said.

On controlling public rage, he said he wouldn’t find himself in the circumstances the Ruto administration experienced at the height of the Gen Z demos.

“It would not have happened under my watch. How would it have gotten to a point that there's a rampage in town, Parliament is overrun?" he asked.

“In 2017, it was a different story. We had information that the nature of such protests would cause chaos in businesses.”  

Ruto has already begun framing the 2027 contest as a choice between “experienced leadership” and "opponents with no plan".

Undeterred, Matiang’i announced that he’d continue with his nationwide tour, which started in his Kisii backyard with a rally that drew thousands.

He plans to campaign in Rift Valley, Central and Western Kenya — regions critical to unlocking victory.

A surprise meeting with ODM’s Kisii Governor Simba Arati fuelled speculation of cross-party negotiations, though Arati remains loyal to Raila for now.

“Aren’t you going to allow me to visit the whole nation?” Matiang’i quipped to cheers in Keroka, signalling his intent to crisscross the country.

Matiang’i also restated that he had nothing to do with the excesses of the police during his tenure, saying officers violate the law individually.

In coming out to declare his bid, the former CS has set the stage for a fresh duel with Ruto, with whom he had run-ins ahead of the 2022 vote.

At the time, Ruto complained that the Interior ministry had been assigned his Deputy President duties.

The ex-CS says he is the safe pair of hands the country needs, adding that he will slay the dragon of corruption and faulting leaders for failing to act.

“The fight against corruption needs to start with the individual leaders and decision makers,” he said.