Matiang’i: If you give me your vote, also hold me to account
Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has urged voters not to offer blind support for his presidential bid but to demand accountability before entrusting him with the seat.
Speaking during a public engagement with Kenyans in Minneapolis on Monday, August 4, 2025, Matiang’i said that when the right time comes, he will ask for support from the people, but that support must come with active civic responsibility.
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He emphasised that leadership should not be about votes alone but about mutual trust and responsibility between elected leaders and citizens.
“When the time comes and the right time when we move close, I will ask you for your vote, but I do not stop there, I ask you to also hold me to account, if you are drawn enough to give me your vote, also hold me to account, ask me questions,” Matiang’i said.
His remarks come amid growing calls for transparency and good governance in the country, with many Kenyans expressing frustration over leaders who disappear after securing electoral victory.
Matiang’i’s message signals a shift from transactional politics to a culture of accountability, where leaders are not only elected but also expected to deliver and answer to the people.
Presidential bid
Matiang’i, who has declared interest in vying for the presidency in the next general election, is in talks with former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, PLP party leader Martha Karua, Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, DAP-Kenya Party leader Eugene Wamalwa and the Jubilee Party, among others, to form a coalition to run against President William Ruto in 2027.
While Matiang’i says he has yet to choose a political party, the Jubilee Party has declared the former Interior Cabinet Secretary as their preferred presidential candidate in 2027, and the United Progressive Alliance Party (UPA) has endorsed him.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the former CS indicated that he was still engaged in broad consultations and that declaring a political party at the moment would disadvantage some of the people he was negotiating with.
“I don’t want to close the door on anyone, I want to have very inclusive, comprehensive and exhaustive discussions with everyone, then we can come together and work on a coalition.”
