Jubilee Party picks former CS Matiang'i to face President Ruto in 2027 polls

Jubilee Party branch leaders have thrown their weight behind former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i as their preferred presidential candidate.

Speaking in Nairobi, the party's officials said the endorsement positions Matiang’i as a frontrunner for the political outfit’s official flagbearer, setting the stage for fierce competition within the Azimio coalition for the 2027 presidential ticket.

“We’ve settled on Matiangi as our candidate. Not to mean that he becomes eventual presidential candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who would then join others in coming up with one person who I believe as a coalition we will be able to back,” said Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.

The decision underscores the party's confidence in Matiang'i's leadership, citing his experience in government and governance track record.

Jubilee's announcement comes months after the former CS declared his interest in clinching the presidency.

In July last year, Matiang'i inked a consultancy agreement with Canadian lobbying firm Dickens & Madson to support his efforts to become President in 2027.

Documents seen by Citizen Digital at the time showed that Matiang'i had already paid a down payment of $65,000 (Ksh.8.4 million) at the time of the agreement and would also pay a retainer of $250,000 (Ksh.32.3 million).  

In the private document, the firm said it will "provide media and public relations services on behalf of the foreign principal's (Matiang'i) goals and activities" and also lobby the Executive and/or Legislative branches of the US government to support his presidential ambitions.

Before then, Matiang'i had remained tight-lipped on his presidential ambitions since his exit from active politics in 2022 when the Jubilee Party leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure lapsed.