Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Friday for the first time publicly declared that he will vie for the presidency of Kenya in 2027.
Dr Matiang'i said that his decision to join the race has been necessitated by the many calls he received from Kenyans while working abroad.
"You know very well that I am a doer because you saw it when I was serving this country as a minister. I went to work abroad because other people assumed power,” Dr Matiang’i said in his tour of Kisii and Nyamira.
“But while there, I received very many messages from Kenyans from all walks of life who informed me of the bad leadership back at home. They asked me to come back home prepared to run for the presidency. I now assure you that I am ready for the job," he said.
"I will go back to my employers abroad. I will write to them an explanation, detailing to them why I have to resign. I will then come back for the campaigns," he said.
Dr Matiang'i was speaking at Gusii Stadium during his meet-the-people tour that was also styled as a homecoming ceremony after he returned from the United States a fortnight ago.
"There are many challenges facing our country now, let us not lose focus. But we are a country that is built on resilience and I urge our people not to lose hope. When the time comes, we will cross that bridge and fix those issues," said Dr Matiang'i.
Dr Matiang'i was joined by several elected, nominated and aspiring leaders from Gusii who added steam to his 2027 presidential ambition.
The meet-the-people began in Kijauri, next to his rural home in Borabu and proceeded all the way to Ekerenyo in North Mugirango via Keroka, Keumbu, Kisii town and Nyamira towns.
At Kisii town, crowds thronged the Capital Roundabout, forcing the event planners to cede to a last minute call to have Dr Matiang'i address the people from Gusii Stadium.
In Kisii, the roundabout is usually used by political players to gauge their popularity based on the number of people they attract.
"I have come here because this is home and because you have been saying that I should come home to explain how we will talk to others about the affairs of our country," said Dr Matiang'i as his followers reacted with wild cheers.
In a surprise move, Governor Arati, who is the deputy party leader of the Raila Odinga-led ODM rode together to the roundabout, and later to the stadium as praise songs were played.
Governor Arati endorsed Dr Matiang'i's ambition, urging him to, henceforth, go all out and request Kenyans from other communities to support his bid.
Addressing the people at Gusii Stadium, Governor Arati claimed that people from the Gusii region have been excluded from government appointments.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and Kisii Governor Simba Arati speaks to residents of Kisii Town on May 2, 2025.
Photo credit: Ruth Mbula | Nation Media Group
"We have been despised when it comes to government appointments. I had to make noise for us to be given a single Principal Secretary position," said Governor Arati.
ODM legislators who were involved in the rally were Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu) and Patrick Osero (Borabu).
"Today was just but an introduction. We now want you to head out and talk to other Kenyans in a bid to send President William Ruto home in 2027," said MP Kibagendi.
North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, the only MP from Nyamira County elected on President William Ruto's UDA party, participated in organising the event. Before his latest move, Mr Nyamoko has been a great ally of President Ruto.
Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba and former West Mugirango Vincent Kemosi also joined the rally. "Ruto Must Go" chants dominated the meet-the-people tour at every stopover.
"The one that we have chosen is our son called Fred Okeng'o Matiang'i. We love Kenya. We were born here. We love everybody in our republic and we want a country that is fair," said Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka.
"Dr Matiang'i will fight for us, and all Kenyans. We believe that he is a good man," he said.
Apart from the ODM and UDA politicians who took part in the rally, the Jubilee Party and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) largely participated in the logistics.
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, who has insisted that the former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party was behind Dr Matiang’i, was part of the team.
In Nyamira, Dr Matiang'i paid a courtesy call to the UPA party leader, Governor Amos Nyaribo in his office, before addressing another excited crowd of residents in the town, and later Ekerenyo.
