Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has called on presidential hopefuls eyeing the 2027 General Election to shelve their ambitions and rally behind former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in a bid to restore national unity and confidence in the country’s leadership.
Speaking during an interview on a local media station on Monday, June 16, 2025, Kioni dismissed claims that his support for Matiang’i was driven by personal interest in the deputy presidency, insisting that his endorsement was informed by the country’s urgent need for leadership that transcends tribal and political divides.
“If I had said Matiang’i is the presidential candidate for Jubilee, wouldn’t that same mouth have said Kioni should be the deputy presidential candidate? The mouth has not said so,” Kioni stated.
Pressed on whether he would consider a deputy president role under Matiang’i, Kioni declined to directly answer, instead reiterating the importance of collective sacrifice and vision in rescuing the country from its current trajectory.
“The country needs Matiang’i more than it needs me. So when you talk to me as the deputy party or deputy president, the country first needs Matiang’i, then other things will follow,” Kioni remarked.
He urged presidential aspirants to put aside their personal ambitions for the greater good, suggesting that backing Matiang’i — a figure he described as coming from a minority community — would send a strong message of unity.
“Those of us who are interested in running for the presidency in this country — can they find it in themselves to start seeing that Matiang’i is a more acceptable candidate, and to say ‘let it be,’ not because they are weaker but that way they become stronger for the sake of this country,” he rallied.
Dire state
Kioni painted a grim picture of the country’s current state, suggesting that even those who voted for the current administration never anticipated the present circumstances.
“We are at a very critical time in this country. We have gone south in a manner that even those who voted for this regime never imagined. We need serious individuals who can win the confidence of Kenyans across tribal boundaries and have a mandate like never before,” he said.
He argued that Kenya is in urgent need of leadership that can command public trust across ethnic boundaries and inspire confidence in governance.
According to Kioni, Matiang’i embodies this ideal, noting that despite being from a smaller community, he possesses national appeal and credibility.
“We need serious individuals who can win the confidence of Kenyans across the tribal boundaries… individuals who can help us turn this country overnight, not tomorrow,” Kioni said.
