Why Matiang'i is best candidate to beat Ruto – Kioni

Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni now says that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as the most viable candidate from the opposition to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on TV47, Kioni said Matiang’i has the ability to unite Kenyans across ethnic and regional divides.

He went on to describe him as a leader who embodies the qualities voters are demanding.

“Kenyans should front a presidential candidate who will deal with William Ruto one touch. I believe that candidate is Matiang’i, not because he is in Jubilee but because he seems to attract support from across all tribes, regions and all cadres of society,” Kioni said.

He argued that Matiang’i represents a shift from traditional politics.

“He seems to fit the bill where Kenyans say they don’t want a politician, they want a manager,” he added.

Kioni confirmed that Jubilee would fully rally behind Matiang’i if he is picked as the opposition’s joint flagbearer.

“He is a Jubilee member, he was with us at the NDC, and when the bell is rung, we will rally behind him all of us,” he said.

The former Ndaragwa MP emphasised the need for opposition unity, saying that fielding a single candidate remains the most effective strategy.

“When we say opposition must produce one candidate, that is the ideal, and we will want that candidate to be identified by Kenyans,” he noted.

At the same time, he warned that Jubilee will not repeat the mistakes made during the Azimio coalition in 2022.

“In the event that it becomes untenable, we will go it alone because what hurt us in Azimio is that we were not able to hammer a coalition until April 2022. We will not allow that kind of push and pull again,” he cautioned.

Kioni’s remarks come a few days after Matiang’i, who has been working with other opposition candidates, including Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, attended the Jubilee Party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

While he previously remained quiet about the political vehicle he would use to seek the Presidency, it is now clear that Jubilee will be it.

Observers say Matiang’i's move has started a fierce battle within the country’s opposition circles, pitting political allies of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Fred Matiang'i against each other.

To demonstrate the political suspicion, while Matiang’i attended the Jubilee National Delegates Convention, all the other opposition bigwigs attended a similar event staged by Martha Karua.

Apart from Gachagua, the Karua-led NDC was also attended by Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi and Eugene Wamalwa.

People close to Gachagua see Matiang’i’s joining of Jubilee as a direct threat. They believe the move is not just about joining a party, but is a plan to undermine Gachagua’s influence.

Some even think that Uhuru is behind it, using Matiang’i to challenge Gachagua in his own political stronghold, the Mt Kenya region.

 The criticism from the DCP leader’s side has been strong.

 Cleophas Malala, a deputy leader in Gachagua’s party, is leading the charge. He said Jubilee’s return is meant to “destroy and break DCP to water down Gachagua’s popularity.”

 He warned Jubilee to stay away if they are not planning to work together with the opposition.

 “The 2027 presidential candidate and flag bearer is none other than Gachagua,” the former Kakamega senator said.