Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who doubles as Jubilee Party’s Deputy Leader, has finally said chances of a handshake with Ruto are zero per cent, if not negative.

Speaking exclusively during an interview with a local TV station on Sunday, April 19, 2026, Matiang’i rejected the idea of working with President William Ruto, terming it an impossible arrangement under the current political circumstances.

The former powerful cabinet secretary, now positioning himself for the 2027 presidential race, questioned what value such an alliance would bring to the country.

According to him, President Ruto’s political track record and his fallout with former allies make the prospect of any future partnership difficult to imagine.

Rules out pact

“I would not be willing to work with President William Ruto. What would we be discussing? Work with him on what?” Matiang’i posed.

“Look at his history, the people he has been wanting to work with, and he is already quarrelling with the ones he has been working with. Am I from Mars? What difference is it going to make?” he added.

Matiang’i also projected confidence in his own presidential bid, saying he entered the race because he believes he has a realistic path to victory.

“I have not thought about not being President. I would not invest in something if I am not like 70 to 80 per cent sure about it.

“I am confident, Sibahatishi, I am serious about everything I do. I can’t see President Ruto’s pathway to election victory,” he said.

His remarks are likely to fuel political debate as early alignments and coalition talks slowly begin ahead of the next General Election.

Uhuru claims

At the same time, Matiang’i dismissed claims that he is a political project of former President Uhuru Kenyatta because he served in the previous administration.

“I don’t understand how I would be Uhuru’s project in the sense that he is using me to achieve a particular purpose. It is nearly nonsensical,” he said.

“I keep asking people, if they are asking me whether or not I am Uhuru’s project because I served in his cabinet, how come nobody is asking me if I am the World Bank’s project because I just left the World Bank?”

Matiang’i also praised a section of young opposition leaders, singling out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.

“I like Sifuna a lot. That group of young legislators is fantastic. They are an excellent example of where Kenya is today. I admire their courage.

“Given an opportunity, I would love to work with them. I would work with Sifuna, Babu, and the whole gang. Changing Kenya is not going to be a one-man guitar; the more we are, the better,” Fred Matiang’i.