Jubilee Deputy Party leader Fred Matiang’i has called on young Kenyans to step forward and actively pursue leadership positions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking on Saturday, April 18, 2026, during the Kenya Anglican Youth Organisation (KAYO) Conference at St. Thomas Cathedral in Kirinyaga County, Matiang’i urged the youth to move beyond rhetoric and take up decision-making roles across all levels of governance.

“I want to encourage you, young people, let us now occupy positions. Let’s not just talk about occupying the spaces we have been occupying,” he said.

“The 2027 General Election should be about young people occupying leadership at all cadres so that you make the changes that you desire and the changes that you would like to see in your country.”

The presidential candidate emphasised that Kenya’s future hinges on how effectively it integrates young people into leadership and development processes, warning that sidelining their voices could stall national progress.

“Our nation cannot afford to overlook the aspirations, talents, and voices of its youth,” he noted in a subsequent social media post.

“Yet today, many young people feel excluded from opportunities and decision-making spaces that directly shape their future. That must change.”

He called for deliberate efforts to empower the youth through inclusion, investment, and access to opportunities, framing it as a critical pathway to sustainable national development.

“I firmly believe that meaningful progress lies in empowering our youth through opportunity, inclusion, and deliberate investment in their potential. Kenya’s future will be defined by how well we support and uplift this generation,” he said.

Jubilee’s 2027 charm offensive

The party has embarked on nationwide tours to cement its political vet ahead of the 2027 polls, activating its mobilisation strategy to ensure Matiang’i hits the ground running as the outfit intensifies preparations for the upcoming elections.

In an interview with a local radio station on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Jubilee Deputy Party Leader (Operations) Jeremiah Kioni revealed that beyond the planned countrywide tours, Matiang’i is also holding high-level boardroom meetings with groups drawn from different regions, political formations, and community leadership structures, with some engagements stretching late into the night.

He described the former Interior Cabinet Secretary as a leader who avoids political theatrics, stating that Matiang’i prefers quiet, strategic engagement rather than media optics and public spectacle.

“We want to kick out a counter-crude campaign. Apart from this, Fred Matiang’i is always permanently in meetings. He engages people in many meetings with elders, community leaders and many more, with some going past midnight. He is not a camera or media person,” Kioni said.

Kioni further noted that as Jubilee continues to engage the public and popularise Matiang’i’s bid, the party remains open to structured talks with other parties within the united opposition, including the Rigathi Gachagua-led Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

He added that should the united opposition agree on a different flagbearer, Jubilee would be willing to shelve its candidate and support the chosen leader in the spirit of opposition unity and solidarity.