Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has handed in official notice of his exit from the World Bank, marking the beginning of a comeback to public life that includes a possible stab at the 2027 presidential race.
Dr Matiang’i’s campaign secretariat on Thursday confirmed that the former powerful CS had given three months' notice to the Bretton Woods Institution at the beginning of this month, with his contract terminating in August.
He is, however, expected back in the country from the US at the end of this month to resume political mobilisation ahead of official campaign launch in August, setting the stage for his anticipated return to Kenya’s public arena after he was thrust into the limelight by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet appointment.
“He has given notice and is serving the final months. He’ll be coming home later this month to reconnect, rebuild old networks, and lay the groundwork,” said Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi, a member of the Team Matiang’i Secretariat.
He said Dr Matiang’i’s return will be marked by strategic engagements with key opposition leaders, as he seeks to position himself as a viable option in the 2027 presidential race.
While speculation around his plans to join the presidential race has swirled for months, this is the clearest sign yet that the ex-CS is preparing to throw his hat in the ring.
Political strategists involved in the planning say Dr Matiang’i intends to build a broad-based coalition that will on a platform of unity, integrity, and development.
Dr Matiang’i did not respond to our requests for response sent to two of his mobile phones. The World Bank did not also respond to our email queries.
The former Interior CS as well as ex-Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua who heads the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K and People's Liberation Party (PLP) chief Martha Karua have come together in a movement aimed at making Dr William Ruto a one-term president.
“Everyone must build their brand, attract support, and show their worth before we settle on a viable candidate capable of taking Ruto home and this means unity of the team remains very key,” added Mr Kibagendi.
Jubilee party
Mr Kibagendi said regular opinion polls will reportedly be conducted to assess the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of all potential candidates.
The eventual flagbearer will be selected based on ‘electability and national appeal’, according to people familiar with the opposition plans.
Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni (in red) and other leaders and supporters welcome former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i (centre) on April 18, 2025 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed ODM leader Raila Odinga in the last election, is said to be secretly pushing for Dr Matiang’i’s candidacy, with his Jubilee party already throwing its support behind the former CS.
Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni on Thursday said that the party’s backing of Dr Matiang’i reflects the wishes of majority of Kenyans.
“Currently, we have said that each party should concentrate on marketing itself and when we finally form a coalition, we shall produce the most viable candidate, whom in our view is Dr Fred Matiang’i,” Mr Kioni told Nation.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, an ally of Mr Musyoka also emphasised the need for unity, but added that each member of the opposition camp is free to back a candidate of their choice.
“This is the way to go. All the parties within our coalition are supposed to strengthen themselves first since this will boost voter mobilisation, but we are determined to produce one candidate to face the incumbent,” said Mr Mwangangi.
Inner circle
Those in Jubilee supporting Matiang’i for president “have a right to do so, just as I also have a right to support Kalonzo,” but ultimately, we want to remain together and produce one formidable candidate to face Ruto, Mr Mwangangi added.
Dr Matiang’i’s entry into the race comes at a time when the opposition is undergoing a period of quiet realignment.
A career civil servant with a reputation for efficiency and discipline, he is seen by many as a “safe pair of hands”, who could appeal to both the establishment and the disillusioned segments of the electorate.
His opponents however see a political soft belly in allegations of corruption and state excesses that dogged his term as Interior CS, when he was accused of complicity in abductions and killings of suspected criminals and government critics. Dr Matiang’i is also a political novice who has never run for any political office
His inner circle is already preparing a national listening tour and a series of forums aimed at gauging public sentiment and building campaign momentum.
The former CS is expected to meet with regional political leaders, youth leaders, professionals, and civil society groups in the coming months.
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni on April 18, 2025.
Two political parties, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Jubilee, are actively campaigning for him across the country though he is yet to publicly declare his stand.
According to UPA National Chairman Nyambega Gisesa who also sits on the Team Matiang’i secretariat, the groundwork is already being laid through a series of nationwide meetings and grassroots mobilisation efforts aimed at building momentum ahead of Matiang’i’s expected return to Kenya to launch his presidential bid.
“Last week, we were in Kisumu, and this coming Monday, we will be holding a meeting for our coordinators in Nairobi County,” Mr Gisesa said in an interview with Nation on Thursday.
“We are building a strong national network to support Dr. Matiang’i’s presidential ambition.”
In addition to party efforts, he said, several grassroots lobby groups have emerged to champion Matiang’i’s candidacy.
Charm offensive
Among them are Women for Matiang’i, Nyanza Youths for Dr Fred Matiang’i, and Team Matiang’i, all of which Mr Gisesa says are composed of “willing and patriotic Kenyans who have mobilised themselves to support the cause.”
“These are volunteers who believe in Dr Matiang’i’s leadership and vision for the country,” he said.
Mr Gisesa revealed that internal consultations are ongoing, with several options on the table—including running on a UPA ticket, partnering with Jubilee, or forming a new political party altogether.
“Our responsibility right now is to build and market brand Matiang’i. There are many views on what vehicle he should use. Some want UPA, others prefer Jubilee, and there are also those advocating for a completely new party. All these ideas are being considered,” he said.
The pro-Matiang’i campaign has also set its eyes on the Coast region, with Gisesa confirming a recent charm offensive that saw coordinators and campaigners mobilised in Tana River, Kwale, and Lamu counties. Meetings in Mombasa and Kilifi are scheduled for later this month.
Behind the scenes, sources indicate that the Matiang’i’s team has quietly set up coordination structures in at least 30 counties, with the aim of securing at least 25 percent of the vote in half of Kenya’s 47 counties—a constitutional requirement for any winning presidential candidate.
“Matiang’i is establishing a formidable, countywide political network. When he hits the ground running after August, Kenyans will feel his presence,” Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, also a member of the Team Matiang’i secretariat said.
Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (left) and retired Chief Justice David Maraga at a past function.
The team has also downplayed talk of rivalry in the opposition camp.
There has been concerns that while former president Kenyatta’s Jubilee party has publicly backed Dr Matiang’i, Mr Gachagua’s DCP was drifting towards Mr Musyoka due to the Mt Kenya rivalry between Jubilee and DCP.
“At the moment, there is no internal competition. Our singular goal is to remove President Ruto from power in 2027,” Mr Gisesa said. “We are focused on unity and building strong networks.”
Multimedia University of Kenya lecturer Prof Gitile Naituli opines that among the opposition politicians, “Dr Matiang’i is extremely popular thus the only person who can kick out Ruto by vote.”
Prof Naituli argues that in the event Mr Odinga will not be on the ballot, he could lose his major support bases of Western and Coast regions, “leaving him with only Luo Nyanza community’s close to 2 million votes.”
“Raila was strong because of support from Kamba, Luhya and the Coast. With Kalonzo out, he cannot marshal the Kamba vote while in Western Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya already appears to have a head start towards the opposition.”
Dickens and Madson
Determined to dethrone president Ruto in 2027, Dr Matiang’i had recruited a globally recognised firm to lobby for his prospects as the sixth President of Kenya.
The Canadian-based Dickens and Madson was to be paid Sh32.5 million to lobby the executive and/or legislative branches of the governments of powerful nations including the US, UK, Japan, Kenya and any other mutually agreed upon country or countries, and international organisations on Mr Matiang’i’s behalf.
“The firm will also provide other services to assist in devising and executing policies for the beneficial development and stability of your political goals and to assist you in attaining the Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya,” said part of an agreement signed on 13 July 2024, and seen by The Africa Report.
Dickens and Madson has caused some controversies in the past. In 2021, it was forced to drop a $2m contract with Myanmar’s junta to defend the 1 February military coup in the southeast Asian country, after failing to secure approval from US and Canadian authorities.
Two years earlier, the firm signed a $6 million deal to seek government funds and diplomatic recognition for Sudanese General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, whose forces have been accused of massacring protesters in Khartoum.
The deal, reported by The Globe and Mail, includes “striving to obtain funding and equipment for the Sudanese military”.
The lobbying also sought “to assist the devising and execution of policies for the beneficial development of Hemedti’s political aims”.
Now the head of the Rapid Support Forces, an independent military force waging Sudan’s later war against the Sudanese Armed Forces, Hemedti has been accused by Human Rights Watch of committing grave crimes against civilians in Darfur and other parts of Sudan.
Ahead of Botswana’s most competitive October 2024 election, then opposition leader Duma Boko had also hired the same firm to help him win the presidency.
In an agreement signed on 8 August and seen by The Africa Report, Montreal-based Dickens & Madson was to lobby contacts within the governments of the US and UK as well as US agencies to support Mr Boko’s efforts to become the president of Botswana.
The firm also proposed to provide media and public-relations services around Boko’s goals and activities and provide lobbying services for him in other countries.
