Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i was forced to cut short his address in Bomet Town on Friday after residents backing President William Ruto disrupted his political tour of the South Rift.
Matiang’i had arrived in Bomet as part of a tour that was expected to take him to Narok, but his team struggled to engage residents after a section of the crowd began chanting slogans in support of Ruto’s bid for a second term.
‘Two Term, Two Term’
The crowd repeatedly chanted “Two term, two term”, interrupting the former Interior Cabinet Secretary as he attempted to address them.
The hostile reception created a tense atmosphere, eventually forcing Matiang’i to abandon his planned engagement and leave the area.
His team also cancelled a scheduled stop in Mulot, with the reception raising concerns that the disruption could derail the wider political tour.
Matiang’i later proceeded with his team to Narok as planned.
Matiang’i Eyes Bigger Role in 2027
The incident comes as political parties and potential presidential contenders intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Matiang’i, who served as Interior Cabinet Secretary during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, has increasingly stepped up his political activities as he seeks to expand his influence beyond his traditional support base.
His South Rift tour is seen as part of efforts to build a broader national political profile ahead of the next elections.
However, Friday’s events in Bomet highlighted the challenge facing opposition and rival political formations seeking to gain ground in parts of the Rift Valley, where President Ruto continues to command significant political support.
The competing chants also turned Matiang’i’s planned campaign stop into a display of the region’s shifting and competing political loyalties.
With Jubilee seeking to rebuild its grassroots network, Matiang’i’s intensified political activities are expected to remain part of the emerging realignments ahead of the 2027 polls.
