Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has stated that he does not have the resources to bribe people and pay voters.

Speaking during a live TV interview on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Matiang’i indicated that he will engage with people who believe in his leadership to mobilise resources for his campaign in the 2027 presidential elections.

“I don’t think that is for public discussion. The truth of the matter is that when you go into a campaign, you seek donors and people to support you for your campaign. I will seek support from well-wishers and those who believe in my leadership. I have no money to bribe people and go pay voters,” Matiang’i noted.

Broad consultations

While stating that he was in broad consultations with several political parties over his candidacy, Matiang’i denied any affiliation to the two political parties that have laud claim on him: the Jubilee Party and the United Progressive Alliance Party (UPA).

He revealed that he had no political party at the moment, and that he would arrive at a decision once the discussions are finalised with other political players.

Matiang’i further noted that he would not be seeking to go alone in the upcoming presidential elections, stating that he is intent on forming an alliance with several political parties to bolster chances of taking leadership of the country after the 2027 polls.

Alliances

“Definitely, as we go forward, there is not going to be a single political party that will form the government. I would rather have sufficient conversations with Kenyans across the board before I finally say this is the format with which I would like to present myself to the IEBC.”

The former cabinet secretary also noted that being courted by various political parties to be their flagbearer was flattering.

“I have been approached by seven or eight political parties on whether we should work together. It is flattering that we have many political leaders sitting down in their executive committees, and saying maybe Fred Matiang’i should be our candidate even before I ask them,” Matiang’i remarked.

Matiang’i is in talks with former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, former Justice Minister Martha Karua, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, DAP-Kenya Party leader Eugene Wamalwa and the Jubilee Party, among others, to form a coalition to run against President William Ruto in 2027.