Fears are mounting in former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s camp in Gusii as President William Ruto prepares to tour the region.
The Star has established that Matiang’i’s allies are uneasy with the growing number of leaders from the region aligning themselves with the broad-based government.
The development has sparked concern that the President could consolidate his support in Kisii and Nyamira and the former CS’s influence in his home turf ahead of the polls.
“Those people outnumber us by far. And I can confidently tell you, if things remain as they are, our king may remain naked,” a lawmaker allied to Matiang’i’s faction admitted.
The anxiety follows a meeting at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel last week, where leaders allied to the broad-based government strategised on Ruto’s planned tour of the region.
The meeting brought together senior government officials and political leaders – both elected and nominated.
Those present included Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi, nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri and nominated MP Irene Mayaka.
Others were South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro, North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda and, Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi.
Also in the team were Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku, West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka and Bomachoge Chache MP Alpha Miruka.
Interestingly, Bonchari MP Charles Onchoke, who had largely been seen as neutral, also attended the meeting, confirming his allegiance to the president.
On the other hand, only Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni and Borabu MP Patrick Osero have remained firmly in Matiang’i’s corner.
Four other leaders have maintained their support for Matiang’i, but their loyalty has been the subject of debate due to their allegiance to Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi.
They include Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi.
The meeting has sparked disquiet within Matiang’i’s camp that Ruto could make further political inroads into the region in his upcoming tours.
The realisation has complicated Matiang’i’s political calculations in a region where his supporters had expected him to enjoy overwhelming backing as he positions himself for the presidency.
“All energy, time and resources should be directed towards building the Matiang’i presidential brand,” Barabu MP aspirant Morara Kebaso said.
The development comes amid reports that the Kenya Kwanza brigade was attempting to reach out to Matiang’i himself to decamp from the opposition.
However, Matiang’i has maintained that he is in the opposition to stay, and has been touring the country calling for the removal of Ruto from power next year.
Kisii and Nyamira counties have a combined 960,293 registered voters, comprising 637,010 in Kisii and 323,283 in Nyamira.
This makes it one of the sought-after regions ahead of the polls.
The development has complicated Matiang’i’s political calculations in a region where his supporters had expected him to enjoy overwhelming backing as he positions himself for the presidency.
Kebaso has criticised what he sees as divided loyalties among leaders who claim to support Matiang’i while participating in a movement whose political direction remains uncertain.
He warned that political alliances would eventually demand a clear choice from leaders and their supporters.
“If you are in Linda Mwananchi and at the same time you are a Jubilee supporter, where you also have a presidential candidate, that multibet will not work. Main chick and side chick politics is adultery. Choose a side and be loyal,” he said.
But Onyonka dismissed suggestions that his involvement in Linda Mwananchi had placed him at odds with Matiang’i.
“We are mutually exclusively inclusive. We have agreed to be on separate paths in the opposition but champion the same agenda,” he said.
The senator maintained that his support for Matiang’i was not incompatible with working alongside other opposition leaders united by their desire to remove Ruto from power in next year’s election.
Onyonka said he was unwilling to abandon his political identity within ODM simply because he was participating in a broader opposition initiative.
“I cannot start talking about Jubilee and I'm an ODM guy. Somebody will write a letter to my party and say the reason why I'm in Linda is that Linda split from ODM,” he said.
He insisted that the opposition would eventually agree on a political vehicle to advance its shared ambitions, including a possible decision to use Jubilee if the leaders considered it the best option.
“We will sit as a team and agree which party locally is substantive and is going to carry out our dreams and visions and we will agree to work with it. We have no contradictory issues with Fred. If we agree it is Jubilee, we will run with Fred,” Onyonka said.
“If we find we need to go to another party, we will go to another. I don't see why people are uncomfortable.”
INSTANT ANALYSIS
The revelation presents Matiang’i with a difficult political balancing act. He must retain the loyalty of his traditional supporters while competing with Ruto’s growing influence and navigating an opposition whose leaders have yet to settle on a common political vehicle and presidential candidate. For Matiang’i, the region represents more than a home base. Strong support there could strengthen his hand in negotiations over the opposition’s presidential ticket, while visible divisions could weaken his bargaining position.
