NAIROBI, Kenya – Fred Matiang’i is back. After months of political quiet and a long stay in the U.S., the former Interior Cabinet Secretary touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday night. He arrived aboard a Qatar Airways flight, silent but very much in the spotlight.
He didn’t talk to the press. He didn’t hold a rally. He didn’t make a speech. But his arrival has spoken volumes.
Waiting for him at the airport were political heavyweights: Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, and nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba. No official statements, just handshakes and smiles. But off-the-record whispers suggest Matiang’i is gearing up to say more—soon.
And just like that, talk of a 2027 presidential bid kicked into high gear.
The Jubilee Party has already rolled out the welcome mat. On their official pages, they declared, “It’s all systems go.” Kioni, one of Matiang’i’s fiercest backers, made it crystal clear—Matiang’i has their full support to run for president in 2027. He said so at a delegates meeting in Keumbu, Kisii County earlier this month.
“They may jail him, but we’ll still choose him,” Kioni declared, dismissing talk of legal hurdles. His tone? Defiant. His message? Unshakeable.
Matiang’i has been mostly off the radar since the 2022 elections, when President William Ruto took power. His low profile sparked rumors. Was he done with politics? Was he avoiding the spotlight? Or was he simply regrouping?
Now we may have the answer.
Matiang’i’s name has never really left the political conversation. Kioni and Onyonka have kept it alive. They’ve championed him as the next leader of the Jubilee Party—and possibly the country. And they’re not alone.
Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni has also voiced his support, joining the growing list of leaders urging Matiang’i to run.
The timing of his return couldn’t be more telling. Kenya’s political ground is shifting, and his comeback feels less like a visit and more like a calculated move. One meant to test the waters. Or maybe to jump right in.
The former CS, known for his tough stance during Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, has kept everyone guessing. But now, with his return, the guessing game just got serious.
And while he hasn’t said it out loud yet, the message is clear: Matiang’i is back—and the road to 2027 just got more interesting.
