MP Samuel Arama declares Fred Matiang’i as Kenya’s 6th president
By Mabonga Makhanu, October 4, 2025Nakuru West Member of Parliament (MP) Samuel Arama has declared Fred Matiang’i as the sixth President of Kenya.
While speaking during a funeral service in Nakuru County on Friday, October 4, 2025, Arama urged Nakuru residents to consider Matiang’i as the country’s next president.
The event, which was also attended by former Chief Justice David Maraga and Fred Matiang’i, saw Arama emphasise that Kenyans are increasingly rallying behind Matiang’i’s leadership bid.
He noted that people across the country now refer to the former Interior Cabinet Secretary as ‘the sixth’, symbolising his growing popularity as a presidential hopeful.
He went further to tell Maraga that Kenyans want Matiang’i as their head of state and not him.
“Nowadays, Fred, you might not know, people call you the 6th; we ndio tunaita the sixth. How many will vote for the sixth? Maraga, I hope you are seeing we come from the same area, but people want Matiang’i,” Arama said.
Matiang’i has in recent months intensified his political activities with the aim of securing victory in the 2027 General Election.
He has been traversing different parts of the country alongside the united opposition to popularise his bid.
However, in recent weeks, he has appeared to distance himself from other opposition leaders, a move that has sparked speculation and internal friction. Some quarters believe that he is being quietly fronted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Matiang’i-United opposition feud
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also weighed in on the matter, appearing to take a swipe at Matiang’i.
Gachagua argued that presidents are not made in boardrooms but by connecting directly with the people.
He maintained that becoming president requires traversing the country and engaging with ordinary citizens rather than focusing on boardroom meetings or relying on social media campaigns.
Drawing from his experience in supporting two previous presidential victories, Gachagua stressed that real grassroots mobilisation is what delivers electoral success.
On his part, Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims that he is merely a technocrat incapable of waging a proper political campaign. He has assured his supporters that he will soon take his campaigns deeper into the grassroots, engaging with communities in villages where he believes the real votes lie.