Jubilee Party aspirants tell Ruto camp to stop ‘hunting’ for Matiang’i

Several Jubilee Party aspirants from the larger Gusii region have rejected calls by pro-government leaders urging former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to abandon his 2027 presidential ambitions and join President William Ruto’s administration.

The aspirants said Matiang’i would not be persuaded to shelve his presidential bid by what they described as political manoeuvring aimed at weakening the opposition.

The latest leader to reach out to Matiang’i was Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda, who, while speaking at Hema in Nyaribari Masaba on Monday, urged the former interior CS to abandon the opposition and support President Ruto.

Jhanda claimed that the opposition was considering fronting Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the presidency rather than Matiang’i.

But speaking to journalists at a hotel in Masaba South later on Monday, the Jubilee aspirants maintained that Matiang’i remained committed to seeking the presidency in 2027 and no emissary would convince him otherwise.

They also vowed to mount joint campaigns across the Gusii region to popularise his candidature.

Borabu parliamentary hopeful and activist Morara Kebaso said Matiang’i was not interested in joining a government led by someone else.

“Dr Matiang’i is not looking for a position in somebody else’s government. He is preparing to form his own government after winning the 2027 presidential election,” Morara said.

The aspirants dismissed calls for Matiang’i to join the government as an attempt to distract voters from issues affecting the country.

Bobasi parliamentary aspirant Wilkins Michira, popularly known as Omochokoro, said Matiang’i had a national agenda that could not be reduced to negotiations over government positions.

“Matiang’i has made his decision. He wants to lead Kenya, not to be absorbed into a government where he has no mandate from the people. The people will decide in 2027,” Michira said.

Nyaribari Masaba parliamentary hopeful Bouse Mairura accused government allies of trying to discourage Matiang’i supporters before the 2027 campaigns had gained momentum.

“They are asking Matiang’i to join a government because they fear the political alternative he represents. But we will not be intimidated. We will take his message to every village, market and centre in Gusii,” Mairura said.

Aspiring Nyamira Senator Adams Mochenu said the calls demonstrated growing anxiety within government circles over Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions.

“If Matiang’i was politically irrelevant, nobody would be asking him to quit the race. They know he has a following and they know the 2027 contest will be competitive,” Mochenu said.

Nyaribari Chache aspirant Brian Gori said the aspirants had resolved to work together to strengthen Matiang’i’s support base.

“We are not going to waste our time responding to political noise. Our work is to organise, mobilise and convince the people that Kenya needs a new direction,” Gori said.

The aspirants said they were ready to take Matiang’i’s message to villages, markets, churches and political gatherings, insisting that the former Cabinet secretary remained their preferred choice for the 2027 presidential contest.

They vowed not to allow what they termed political intimidation and “last-minute manoeuvres” to derail Matiang’i’s ambitions.

“We are ready to walk from one corner of Gusii to another to sell the Matiang’i agenda. Nobody will stop us,” Mairura said.

Mairura added that Matiang’i’s record in government, particularly his reputation for firmness and implementation, would form a central pillar of their campaign.

The aspirants challenged those pushing Matiang’i to join the Ruto administration to explain why they were allegedly afraid of facing him at the ballot.

The aspirants spoke to journalists before proceeding to Nyaguku area in Itumbe, Bobasi, where they campaigned for Michira.

Addressing hundreds of residents at Nyaguku Primary School playgrounds, Michira described himself as an alternative voice for residents seeking change in Bobasi Constituency.

He pledged to prioritise road improvement and school infrastructure if elected, saying poor roads and dilapidated learning facilities remained major challenges facing residents.

“We will fight for better roads, better schools and development that reaches every corner of Bobasi,” he said.

The aspirants said they would continue holding joint political activities as they seek to expand Matiang’i’s support across the Gusii region ahead of the 2027 elections.