Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has shed light on the party’s decision to back former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.  

During an interview on a local media station on Monday, March 24, 2025, Kioni revealed that Matiang’i had personally expressed his interest in running for president, which prompted the party to start preparations for his national campaign.

“Matiang’i just expressed a desire, and it is the work of the party to market its candidate across the country,” Kioni stated.

Kioni argued that for a party of Jubilee’s stature, having a clear presidential candidate is crucial.

“As a party the size of Jubilee, it’s not in our best interest to operate without a presidential candidate. When there are individuals willing to offer leadership, they should be given a fair chance,” he added.

Kioni also revealed that Matiang’i would soon address the public about his political plans.  

“Matiang’i is the one who reached out, and he will be speaking about it himself in the coming days. We won’t have to wait too long. When he feels the time is right, he will make his position clear,” Kioni stated.  

Not an automatic ticket

However, Kioni clarified that Matiang’i’s selection as Jubilee’s flagbearer does not automatically make him the preferred candidate for the entire opposition.

Instead, he emphasized the need for a broader coalition to counter what he described as the disaster posed by the Kenya Kwanza-ODM broad-based government.  

“We are not saying that because he is Jubilee’s candidate, he will automatically be the candidate for the whole country. We need to form a coalition with other opposition figures to take on the mess created by the UDA-ODM government,” Kioni noted.  

He further hinted that discussions with other opposition leaders were ongoing, with the aim of rallying behind a strong candidate capable of winning the presidency.  

Proven track record

In a similar media interview on February 24, 2025, Kioni defended the former ruling party’s endorsement of Matiang’i due to his track record and his ability to implement meaningful reforms in the country.

According to Kioni, Matiang’i has the necessary expertise to revamp the country’s education sector, which he stressed is facing numerous challenges, including issues related to university funding.

In addition to education, Kioni stated that the Jubilee Party selected Matiang’i because they believe he would be able to reintroduce the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with significant improvements.

“Fred Matiang’i is our presidential candidate, he is the only presidential candidate that can issue orders to bring back Huduma Namba, go back to NHIF and fund universities,” Kioni told a local TV station.