Matiang’i jets back from the US, treats Ruiru residents to nyama choma
By Mustafa Juma, August 16, 20252027 presidential hopeful and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has returned to the country after a trip to the United States, marking his arrival with a surprise stop in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
Landing in Nairobi on Friday, August 15, 2025, Matiang’i opted for an impromptu lunch at Exit Eleven Inn, along the Eastern Bypass.
In a show of humility and grassroots connection, he shared a hearty meal of nyama choma and ugali with locals, engaging them in light conversation and listening to their concerns.
He was joined by Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba, among other leaders.
Matiang’i’s return and low-key public appearance come amid growing political activity as aspirants position themselves for the 2027 presidential race.
Matiang’i’s US tour
During his US trip, he addressed a series of diaspora engagement forums alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
While abroad, Matiang’i criss-crossed major U.S. cities, including Baltimore and Seattle, holding intimate town-hall-style meetings with Kenyan professionals keen on contributing to national development ahead of the next electoral cycle.
In Baltimore, he urged Kenyan doctors, educators, and technology experts in the diaspora to plough their expertise and resources back into the country’s health care and education sectors.
Wamuchomba’s ties with Matiang’i
Wamuchomba, who was once a vocal and loyal ally of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has undergone a noticeable political shift. During Gachagua’s impeachment process in 2024, she stood firmly by his side.
She went head-on with the proponents of the impeachment motion and was present at nearly every event Gachagua attended.
However, in recent months, that loyalty seems to have faded. While she has not publicly declared her fallout with Gachagua, her actions suggest that the relationship has cooled.
For the past three months, Wamuchomba has conspicuously avoided mentioning Gachagua’s name in any of her public forums, something that would have been unthinkable just months ago.
The first public meetup between Wamuchomba and Matiang’i took place at the former CS’s Karen home on May 15, 2025. Interestingly, this happened on the same day Gachagua was launching his political party.
Later, during a church service in Thika town at AIPCA on Sunday, June 29, 2025, where Matiang’i led a delegation of Kisii elected leaders, Wamuchomba welcomed him warmly.
Notably, she was the only opposition-aligned leader present, just the same as the Friday, August 15, 2025 incident.