Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has dismissed speculation that he is considering joining President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government ahead of the 2027 general election, calling such reports “nonsense” and “an insult to common sense.”
Speaking in Muthara, Tigania East, during the burial of former Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s grandmother, Judith Mwakairu, Matiang’i scoffed at claims that he could work with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting he remains firmly aligned with the Opposition.
“Sometimes I get annoyed when I see these stories that I’m going to work with these people. You don’t know them; I know them very well and the stuff they are made of,” Matiang’i said, dismissing suggestions he could be Ruto’s potential running mate.
The former CS accused the government of presiding over widespread corruption and mismanagement, saying, “Every day you wake up, it’s stealing. They’ve perfected looting; they deserve a PhD in it. I would rather sit under a tree at home with my family than work with such people.”
Matiang’i recently rejoined the Jubilee Party, associated with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and declared his intention to use it as his political vehicle for the 2027 presidential race. His move has intensified speculation that he could splinter the Opposition, potentially benefiting Ruto’s re-election bid.
On Friday, Matiang’i attended the Wiper Democratic Front’s National Delegates Convention at Uhuru Park, pledging to support the Opposition’s joint presidential candidate.
He now faces a major test of influence in his Nyamira County backyard, where by-elections in Nyansiongo, Ekerenyo, and Nyamaiya Wards are set for November 27. Though Jubilee is not fielding candidates, Matiang’i is backing affiliates such as UPA and PDP against Kenya Kwanza’s UDA contenders.
