Boost for Opposition as Matiang'i returns

The opposition has received a major political shot in the arm with the return of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle against President William Ruto.

Matiang’i—a powerful figure in then President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government—landed quietly on Thursday night after disengaging from his role at the World Bank to concentrate in his presidential ambition.

The former minister left the country on May 18 and traveled to the United States to formally resign from the World Bank, where he has served since September 2022.

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It is widely believed that Matiang’i not only brings a technocratic edge to the opposition coalition but also a firm grip on governance issue owing to his track record in the last administration.He also left an indelible mark in the ministries of ICT, Education, and Interior dockets where he served.

The former Uhuru’s blue-eyed boy is also seen as stabilising figure with insider knowledge of state machinery.

“Let's organise ourselves, and please, Gen Z, we can do as much as we want, but if we are not registering and preparing to vote, we have not succeeded,” Matiang’i said on his return on Thursday.

“The drive is we register and prepare ourselves to participate effectively and in a quality manner in the forthcoming electoral process.

“We are all one family in our country; however you think or play your politics, our country must always be one country, one family, and we must always find a way of engaging one another.”

The former CS was addressing a section of youths who had gathered at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive him upon his return from the US.

His return is seen as a morale booster for the opposition, led by Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka.

However, pro-Ruto lawmakers have dismissed Matiang’i’s influence, terming him a political novice.

Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma described the former CS’s presidential ambitions as a big joke that will not materialise.

“A nation where Matiang’i and (Mumias East MP Peter) Salasya can run to be president is a nation in a very funny wrong trajectory,” Kaluma said. “We seem to joke too much, let us stop some jokes.”

Matiang’i has joined ranks with Kalonzo, Gachagua, Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Justin Muturi and Mukhisa Kituyi in their broader scheme to unseat Ruto.

The team is, however, facing a headache in agreeing on one of them to face Ruto from the list of five who have declared interest for the seat.

Gachagua, Kalonzo, Karua, Matiang’i, and Eugene have insisted their names will be on the ballot in 2027.

Speaking in Meru on Friday, the former DP downplayed any fallout over the flagbearer, saying the team will agree on a single candidate.

The Star on Friday established plans by the opposition to embark on joint countrywide engagements as the team crafts a new governance blueprint.

The engagements are set to start on Saturday with Meru County, where the joint team will camp for three days addressing several rallies and meet with local leaders and opinion shapers.

Meru county played a crucial role in President Ruto’s 2022 victory over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Key politicians from the region have lined up a series of engagements as the opposition seeks to send a strong political message that Meru—and the larger Mount Kenya East region—is shifting away from the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance.

An itinerary seen by the Star shows that the opposition leaders will make several stops in Kangeta, Laare, Njilu, Kiengu, Maua, and Mutuati on June 21.

Prominent Meru leaders expected to spearhead the campaign include former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, former Governor Peter Munya, and former MP Maoka Maore.

Speaking on Friday, Maore confirmed the planned tour and described it as the first-ever joint opposition offensive in Mount Kenya East.

“Our leaders will indeed be with us on June 21 to listen to the ground and interact with our people,” Maore said.

“This will be a demonstration of the people of Meru’s love for their leaders, who are pushing for a better Kenya.”

This will mark the first high-profile regional tour featuring all opposition luminaries since Matiang’i arrival.

The opposition, led by Gachagua, has continued their blistering attacks on the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying it has failed the people of the Central region.

Speaking in Nkubu town, South Imenti constituency, the DCP leader warned Mt. Kenya not to fall to the divide-and-rule tactics being employed by Ruto.

“I was his deputy, and we parted ways because our region was getting a raw deal. He promised us very many development projects, and he delivered none,” Gachagua told supporters.

“Let us all unite and do not allow Ruto to divide us, his intention is to divide us like the late (President Daniel arap) Moi used to divide the community.”

Linturi said the public engagements would continue across the country to tell Kenyans who Ruto is and why they should not consider him for the second term.

“We will not be cowed by anybody, we will not allow our people to be deceived again,” he said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

The return of Matiang’i is expected to boost the political fortunes of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, along with their allies who had embarked on extensive tours of the Ukambani and Coast regions.

The leaders have pledged to remain united and support one among them to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 general election.