- Former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i dismissed allegations that his presidential bid was linked to former president Uhuru Kenyatta
- He described the rumors as “normal rumours,” saying his decision to run was personal and not influenced by anyone.
- Matiang’i questioned why he was labeled as Uhuru’s “project” while other former ministers with similar ambitions escaped the label
- He defended Uhuru’s legacy, saying there was no shame in serving under a leader he saw as successful
Former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims linking his presidential bid with the former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Source: Facebook
During an interview on Wednesday, October 29, Matiang’i said suggestions that he is a political project of his former boss are baseless.
Describing it as normal rumours, the former powerful minister said that the talks are being conducted by people who do not have a clear understanding of his independent decisions.
Why did Matiang’i question the ‘slave of Uhuru’ statement?
The powerful former minister, who served in Uhuru’s Cabinet for almost a decade, said it was misleading to assume that every former government official seeking higher office is doing so under the influence of the former president.
He emphasized that his decision to join the presidential race was personal and was not dictated by anyone.
“As for whether I am someone’s puppet or not, you know, I cannot rewrite history. I served as a Cabinet Minister under President Uhuru Kenyatta. As for whether that makes me his project or not, in fact, it is just a matter of division at the end of the day. As for whether I am his project or not, that is just speculation and nonsense. I am not running for the presidency because Uhuru told me to run for the presidency. I took the decision to run for the presidency,” Matiang’i said.
He accused his critics of hypocrisy, saying that many of those who spread such claims are still privately seeking Uhuru’s support.
“People will say that, and then they say that, you know, you are a project of Uhuru, and they themselves are looking for the same side of Uhuru to talk to, and so on,” he added.
The former minister also challenged the rationale behind naming him as a supposed “project” of Uhuru while ignoring other Cabinet colleagues who have also expressed interest in the presidency.
“There may be three or four other people in his Cabinet, like Malwa, who were ministers with me in the same Cabinet, who are interested in the presidency. So who is the project? Why am I a project and not a Malwa?” he asked.
Matiang’i said that if rank or proximity to power were the criteria, others would fit the “project” label better than him, including the President William Ruto.
“Because, you see, Wamalwa was the minister of defense, I was the minister of interior in the same Cabinet. The current president was his deputy. Maybe he would be more of a project than me because if the title is the issue, he would be more of a project than me,” he said.
How did Matiang’i defend the legacy of Uhuru?
Matiang’i also opposed what he described as the excitement of associating the name of Uhuru with any political development.
He recalled how social media went viral when the former head of state visited the White House recently for discussions on the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the East African Community peace process.
Source: UGC
He continued to defend Uhuru’s legacy, describing him as a successful president whose leadership record speaks for itself.
According to Matiang’i, there is no shame in working under a capable leader.
“I saw here, when President Kenyatta went to the White House to attend discussions about the DRC Congo on behalf of the East African community, the White House stopped everything they were doing that day, and filled social networks with pictures. I think every sign, turn, understanding, and everything of Uhuru in the White House was all over the social networks, and so on, in some desperate ways. That is the same Uhuru they are talking about. And anyway, by the way, everyone knows Uhuru was a successful president. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with a successful president?” Matiang’i asked.
Which party will Mataing’i use in 2027?
As previously reported, Matiang’i officially joined the Jubilee Party, indicating his intention to use the party’s ticket to contest for the presidency in 2027.
In taking party membership, Matiang’i aims to involve grassroots structures in the 47 counties of Kenya and establish the presence of national campaigns.
Secretary General of the Party Jeremiah Kioni said that Jubilee offers a proven national platform suitable for the presidential ambition with wide reach.
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