Two political parties are embroiled in a political contest and supremacy battle over which one of them should field former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i (left) for the presidency in the next general elections. 

The United Progressive Alliance party (UPA), which Matiang’i formed prior to the 2022 elections, has endorsed him as its flagbearer while the Jubilee Party, whose leader is retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, has also settled on Matiang’i for the same post.

UPA party leader Amos Nyaribo, who is also the Nyamira governor, and party chairman Nyambega Gisesa have assured Kenyans that Matiang’i would run on a UPA party ticket, effectively dismissing the Jubilee Party claims.

On the other side, the Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni has publicly come out and announced that their party settled on Matiang’i as their torchbearer for the seat.

Over the weekend, Jubilee party leaders and supporters from Nyamira launched campaigns to popularise Matiang’i’s candidature for the top political seat.

National platform

Led by Nyamira county branch secretary, David Morara Obonyo, they said that Matiang’i was a national leader and needed a national political party if his presidential dreams and agenda have to be realised.

“The truth of the matter is UPA is a Kisii-based political party. Matiang’i is not contesting to be a Kisii president but a Kenyan president and therefore needs a national party, which is Jubilee,” Obonyo stated.

Addressing a gathering at Kemera market in Kitutu Masaba, Obonyo asked UPA to stop causing political confusion about Matiang’i’s candidature

“Who knows the UPA party outside the Gusii region? You can field candidates for other positions through UPA but for the seat of presidency, Matiang’i should be allowed to run through the Jubilee party,” he said.

The officials also dismissed the new political marriage between President William Ruto and the ODM leader Raila Odinga terming it inconsequential. Obonyo termed Raila as a political traitor and an opportunist who was always using innocent Kenyans to achieve his political ambitions and interests with any government in power.