NAIROBI, Kenya — Fred Matiang’i has officially stepped into the 2027 presidential race spotlight, choosing the global stage—Texas, to be exact—as his first campaign stop.
The former Interior Cabinet Secretary launched his diaspora engagement tour with a vibrant town hall in Irving, drawing hundreds of Kenyans living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for what felt more like a reunion than a rally.
Held at DFW Celebrations, the weekend event saw Matiang’i ditch the usual political theatrics for something more personal.
Speaking partly in his native dialect, he struck an emotional chord with the audience, reminding them they weren’t just spectators but critical architects of Kenya’s future.
“We’re not building the next Kenya without you,” Matiang’i told the crowd. “Your influence matters now more than ever.”
Matian’gi also took the opportunity to condemn tribalism stating that opportunities should be awarded on the basis of merit and not hinged on a candidate’s tribe. He shunned tribal ideologies as being retrogressive.
The event’s branding made his ambitions crystal clear. Posters boldly referred to him as a “visionary leader” with hashtags splashed across social platforms.
The theme of the town hall, “A New Kenya: Shaped by Voices at Home and Abroad,” reflected Matiang’i’s strategy to bridge domestic reform with international engagement.
With the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) planning to expand voter registration in the diaspora, Kenya’s next election is shaping up to be just as global as it is local.
Insiders revealed that the Texas stop is the first of many as Matiang’i crafts a diaspora-first roadmap.
But this wasn’t just about rallying support — it was about repositioning the diaspora’s role from the periphery to the heart of Kenyan politics.
