Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has pledged to restore public confidence in the government should he win the presidency in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Sunday at the Wamunyoro home of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nyeri County, Matiang’i accused President William Ruto’s administration of misleading Kenyans.
“I am committed to cleaning up this country and rebuilding trust in public institutions. Citizens should be able to believe what government officials tell them,” he said.
Matiang’i criticized the current government, stating, “A government should not toy with its citizens as is happening now.”
Recalling his tenure as Education Cabinet Secretary under President Uhuru Kenyatta, he described himself as a diligent public servant. “I thrived on hard work. I would inspect schools across counties at dawn and still be up at 4 a.m. to open national exam containers in another region,” he said.
He vowed to root out corrupt and untrustworthy officials if elected, adding, “It is up to voters to elect leaders they believe can be trusted with such responsibility.”
Matiang’i also accused some government leaders of deliberately creating divisions among Kenyans to distract them from real issues. He urged the public to remain united and vigilant in holding leadership accountable.
Having declared his interest in the presidency, Matiang’i has begun mobilising support, particularly in the Gusii region. He is also working closely with other opposition figures, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, and Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-Kenya, all of whom attended the Nyeri meeting.
The opposition alliance has indicated that they will rally behind a single candidate to challenge President Ruto in 2027.
