I don’t belong to any party’: Matiang’i denies of being Uhuru’s project.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims that he is a political project of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying he has not committed to any political party and is still consulting across the political spectrum.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Dr. Matiang’i said his political engagements are open-ended as he assesses potential collaborations for the 2027 General Election. He said aligning himself with a single political party at this stage would be premature and limiting.
“I am consulting with several political parties and several political leaders across the board. I honestly think if I made a choice now and stuck to one political party, I would be disadvantageous to the others with whom we are talking,” Dr. Matiang’i said.
He also addressed claims linking him to the former Head of State, saying his service under President Kenyatta’s administration does not mean he is a political project. Dr. Matiang’i served in three ministerial positions during Kenyatta’s 10-year tenure and noted that many others who served in the Cabinet are now in the current administration.
“It is a historical fact that Uhuru appointed me to his Cabinet and I served in his Cabinet for 10 years in three portfolios. For the 10 years he was President, he appointed almost 30 people to his Cabinet. Some are still serving to this day. Others have risen to other positions,” Dr. Matiang’i said.
He rejected the notion that his association with the former President makes him a political proxy, and asked the question: “If it is a question of service, why not ask me if I am a project of the World Bank because I just came from the World Bank?”Dr. Matiang’i also said he has not sought endorsement from the retired President on his presidential ambitions although they discuss national issues.
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“I have not asked him (Uhuru) whether I should run or not, but we discuss other Kenyan matters every time we have an opportunity,” he said.
On his 2027 bid, Dr. Matiang’i said seven to eight political parties have approached him expressing interest in partnering with him. He said his final political alignment will only be determined after national engagement.
“I would rather have sufficient conversations and discussions with Kenyans across the board before I finally say this is the format I would like to represent myself to IEBC,” he said. “I don’t want to close the door on anyone. I want to have very comprehensive, inclusive and exhaustive discussions with everyone, then we come together and work on a coalition.”
He emphasized the need for political unity, acknowledging it’s impossible for one party to form government on its own under the current democratic system.
“We are better off as a country when we work together,” Dr. Matiang’i said.
This comes after Jubilee Party publicly endorsed Dr. Matiang’i as a potential presidential candidate. In February, Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni announced Dr. Matiang’i as the party’s preferred candidate for the next election, saying the endorsement was not a final presidential ticket but a first step towards building a coalition.
“We’ve settled on Matiang’i as our candidate. Not to mean that he becomes an eventual presidential candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who would then join others to come up with one person, who I believe as a coalition we will be able to back,” Kioni said.
‘I don’t belong to any party’: Matiang’i denies of being Uhuru’s project.
