Africa-Press – Kenya. Former powerful Cabinet minister Fred Matiang’i has announced countrywide meet-the-people tours as he seeks to popularise himself ahead of the next elections.
The former Interior and Coordination of National Government CS in the government of Uhuru Kenyatta, is hoping to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, on the Jubilee Party ticket.
Matiang’i, who spoke during his first rally that also marked his homecoming in Gusiiland since reports started making rounds that he would be seeking the country’s top job, said he would be moving around the country to cement his support ahead of the showpiece.
He charmed the eagerly awaiting crowds even as he addressed the residents from one stop to another atop his car. The residents had turned out in large numbers to welcome him.
Matiang’i said he would be visiting the Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, and Western Kenya regions to rally Kenyans to support his presidential bid.
“Aren’t you going to allow me to visit the whole nation? From here, we go to Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Meru, Coast, and Western and also visit our brothers and sisters in Nyanza,” Matiang’i said as the excited crowd cheered him on.
It was Matiang’i’s first public appearance since his reign as the Interior Cabinet Secretary in the Uhuruto administration.
The former CS kicked off his tour by visiting residents in Kisii. He toured Kijauri, Nyamira, Sotik, and Keroka, among others, in a day-long meet-the-people tour, even as he laid the ground for his presidential bid.
Matiang’i said he had heard the voices of his supporters and was considering running for the presidency.
Some leaders, including Jubilee Part,y honchos, have been fronting him for the presidency.
During the tour, Matiang’i visited Kisii Governor Simba Arati of ODM. Immediately after the meeting, there was speculations as to whether Arati would be shifting allegiance from ODM to Matiang’i’s camp.
Matiang’i paid a courtesy call to Arati at his office in Kisii Town before they addressed a public rally at the Capital Roundabout during his triumphant entry to his homeland.
The closed-door meeting, which was attended by other local leaders, including area Senator Richard Onyonka, lasted about 30 minutes before Matiang’i and Arati emerged and rode in the same car in the streets of Kisii town.
Arati, one of ODM’s high-ranking officials and the party’s deputy leader, has remained loyal to Raila for decades, since his days as an MCA and later as MP for Dagoretti North in Nairobi.
As the political clouds continue to gather, all eyes are on Matiang’i to see how he will unfold his newfound political career.
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