Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has taken his stance on former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i succeeding President William Ruto in 2027.
Raila, while holding his consultative meetings in Kisii County on Thursday, March 6, downplayed Matiang’i’s presidential bid, stating that regional voting blocs alone cannot secure Kenya’s top seat.
According to Raila, Matiang’i “will have a mountain to climb” and “cannot be elected on the basis of support from his ethnic community alone.”
“There’s nothing like a community producing a candidate. Someone running for the presidency of Kenya cannot be elected based on Kisii votes, Luo votes, Luhya votes, or even Mount Kenya votes,” Raila stated.
Raila Says Matiang’i Needs More Than Kisii Support to Win Presidency
The former AUC candidate further stated that presidential aspirants must build broad-based, cross-regional coalitions to succeed.
“If you want to be elected, you will be elected by Kenyans generally.”
While suggesting that it is too early to discuss presidential candidates, the former Prime Minister also noted that Matiang’i has not officially declared his interest in the presidency.
However, Raila mentioned that Matiang’i has not, as things stand, come up to speak or declare that he wants to run for the presidency.
“That is something we will deal with when the actual time comes. Mr. Matiang’i has not at this stage come out to speak to declare that he wants to run for the presidency, so I don’t know where you are getting that information,” Raila said.
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Jubilee Party Endorsing Matiang’i
This comes after Jubilee Party branch leaders threw their weight behind Matiang’i as their preferred presidential candidate in January this year.
Speaking in Nairobi, the party’s officials said the endorsement positions Matiang’i as a frontrunner for the political outfit’s official flagbearer.
“We’ve settled on Matiangi as our candidate. Not to mean that he becomes eventual presidential candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who would then join others in coming up with one person who I believe as a coalition we will be able to back,” said Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
In July 2024, Matiang’i inked a consultancy agreement with Canadian lobbying firm Dickens & Madson to support his efforts to become President in 2027.
Also Read: Uhuru Man Reveals the Tribe They Will Back for President in 2027
Some pundits hold that the history of the relationships between Matiang’i and Gachagua as well as with Kalonzo would be a factor in pre-election negotiations.
Matiang’i was the blue-eyed boy of the former President Uhuru Kenyatta government, almost coming close to playing roles defined for the Deputy President.
Opposition Ganging UP to Unseat Ruto
The opposition is riding on the premise that President Ruto has fallen out of favour with not only some of the bases that propelled him to the top seat but also the young people who powered up his 2022 campaigns.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua are also eyeing to unseat Ruto in 2027.
However, Ruto has dismissed the formations, saying he “cannot accept threats about the 2027 elections.
“I have served as an MP for 15 years, as Deputy President for 10 years and now as President. What can you threaten me with? What is it that I have not become?” he asked his detractors.
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