NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has forcefully rejected claims that he is a surreptitious project of President William Ruto, describing such assertions as baseless propaganda aimed at undermining his presidential ambitions.
Speaking at a political gathering in Tigania, Meru County, on October 11, Matiang’i dismissed the narrative that he is collaborating with the ruling administration.
“I am angry sometimes when I see this nonsensical propaganda that I am going to work with Ruto. How can I work with them? I know these people, more than how you know them,” he said.
Matiang’i instead positioned himself as a firm critic of the status quo. He accused the Ruto administration of mismanagement, overreliance on public relations campaigns, and failing to deliver essential public services.
He urged opposition figures to embrace internal democracy rather than resorting to boardroom decisions.
“This is a government of blogging and bribery. Their medical cover is not working. Money is being misappropriated, and Kenyans are not getting services,” he said.
He reaffirmed plans to contest the presidency under the banner of the Jubilee Party, which recently endorsed him as its flagbearer. Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni earlier confirmed that Matiang’i is the party’s candidate to challenge Ruto in 2027.
Matiang’i also appealed to disillusioned voters, especially youth, to “take their vote” rather than falling prey to orchestrated online narratives. He condemned bloggers and media sections, he said, who were being paid to craft false narratives about political alliances.
The claims that he is being used as a plot to fragment the opposition have circulated widely of late. Observers and opposition insiders have speculated he may enjoy quiet backing from factions within the government seeking a pliant alternative to Governor Johnson Sakaja or other high-profile rivals.
Matiang’i’s denial comes at a highly charged moment in Kenya’s political calendar. With multiple opposition leaders eyeing the presidency—among them Rigathi Gachagua, Martha Karua, and Eugene Wamalwa—asserting political independence is critical for credibility.
As Kenya edges toward 2027, the stakes are high. Matiang’i’s next moves—coalition building, policy articulation, and grassroots expansion—will test whether his pitch as an outsider capable of systemic reform can survive the glare of claims about political complicity.
