Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has been coronated as a Kisii elder and community spokesman.

The coronation ceremony was held at Ekerenyo Grounds in Nyamira County on Monday, February 23, 2026, where United Opposition leaders were present.

The Kisii elders moved to bless Matiang’i and handed him traditional instruments symbolising his new role as the voice of the Abagusii community on the national platform.

The elders first gave Matiang’i a special cloth to symbolise his new status in the Kisii community.

They explained that although they could have given him a traditional skin, they instead chose to bless him with special attire.

They also presented him with headgear, symbolising power and his new responsibility, an honour reserved for elders of his calibre and leadership standing.

Matiang’i was also given a stick.

The elders noted that in many situations they bless leaders with a spear, but in his case, they chose a stick to signify authority and peaceful leadership, emphasising that he was not going to war but seeking unity.

He was further handed a whisk, which the elders told him he should use to greet his people during major ceremonies.

The elders then invited a religious leader to pray and bless the instruments that had been bestowed upon Matiang’i.

Finally, they formally released him by handing him over to the United Opposition principals and allowing him to traverse the country in search of votes.

Blessing Matiang’i

The principals, who have rebranded their movement as the United Alternative Government, shook their hands as he held the instruments of authority given to him by the elders.

After receiving the blessings, Matiang’i thanked the elders for the gesture and assured them that he would not take the responsibility lightly.

He promised to deliver victory and vowed that, should he secure the presidency, he would continually seek guidance from the council of elders who blessed him as he traverses the country.

“Kwa council of elders nitakuwa nashauriana na nyinyi, sitakuwa naenda kando na muongozo yenu.”

United Opposition’s Kisii tour

The event took place during the three-day United Opposition tour of the Kisii region, with the maiden stop at Ekerenyo Grounds, where Matiang’i received his blessings.

They are expected to tour the larger Abagusii region, which appears to be gradually shifting from its traditional voting pattern.

The region has long been a stronghold of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga but now seems to be slowly embracing Matiang’ i.

This development also comes just days after Matiang’i was cleared by his party to be the Jubilee flagbearer and serve as a link between the party and the United Opposition.