The Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has set the tone for the 2027 presidential contest by continuing to popularise their preferred candidate, Fred Matiang’i.

Through media interviews and grassroots engagement, Kioni has been on an active mission of selling Matiang’i’s candidature to the electorates two years before the polls.

In his latest submission on Monday, February 24, 2025, the former Ndaragua Member of Parliament argued that the former ruling party endorsed Matiang’i due to his track record and ability to implement far-reaching reforms in the country.

According to the vocal political leader, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary possesses the necessary expertise to turn around the country’s education sector which he insisted was facing a myriad of challenges including the university funding model issue.

He cited his achievement when he served as Education Cabinet Secretary under the previous administration to justify the endorsement.

Besides education, Kioni argued that the Jubilee Party settled on Matiang’i because of their conviction that he would reintroduce the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with a more improved outlook.

Huduma Namba which was widely rejected during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign, is another programme which Kioni maintained would be revived if Matiang’i emerges as the winner in the 2027 presidential poll.

“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.

Not imposed

While pushing for Matiang’i’s candidature, Kioni affirmed that the party had not imposed him on Kenyans. He explained that the decision to endorse him came after a wide consultation with electorates and other stakeholders.

Nonetheless, he disclosed that Jubilee had not shut its doors to other candidates eyeing the country’s top seat. Kioni clarified that the endorsement was also an in-party decision pending negotiations with other parties.

“These members here have joined others across the country and other leaders of other parties by also saying they want their own presidential candidate as a party,” Kioni stated.

“This is not to mean that he(Matiangi) become the eventual candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who will join others in coming up with one person who I believe as a coalition in the opposition we will be able to back,” he clarified.

While threatening to decamp from Azimio before the 2027 polls, Kioni warned that the confusion in opposition including the rift in ODM is likely to give Ruto a second chance unless addressed on time,

“Unless addressed, the confusion in opposition will guarantee Ruto a second term in office,” Kioni cautioned.