Matiang’i: No money or threat will make me drop my presidential bid
By Dorcas Mbatia, August 18, 2025Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has kicked off his campaign in the Mt. Kenya region with a bold declaration that nobody can buy him off to abandon his mission of becoming the next head of state.
While expressing confidence that he will win the next general election, he called on the vote-rich region to back his bid, affirming that he will be in the race, vowing to send President William Ruto home.
” I cannot be bought, bullied, or backed out of the 2027 presidential race because I am not anyone’s project because this is my personal decision to come out and help in fixing this nation,” Matiangi stated.
Matiang’i assured the crowd of grassroots leaders from the region, while speaking at Sportsman’s Arms in Laikipia on Sunday, August 17, 2025, that his mission to fix the country and fight corruption is unstoppable.
“No money, no threats, no intimidation will make me drop from this race. I am on a mission to rescue this country from the jaws of corruption and failed leadership,” he added.
Denies being a project
Matiang’i emphasised that he was not anyone’s political project and directly dismissed claims linking him to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Let’s be honest wasn’t Ruto also not Uhuru’s deputy?” so does that mean he is also the project? These are just distractive voices, but I am not a project to Uhuru, I am on my own ,” he noted.
Matiang’i did not mince words when criticising President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of hypocrisy in the fight against corruption.
“You cannot claim to fight corruption when your own family is doing business with government departments and state enterprises; you must lead by example; that is the biggest mistake of this administration. Kenya cannot move forward like that.”Said the presidential candidate.
Priority order if elected
The former CS vowed that if elected president, his administration would completely bar public officials from engaging in tendering or contracting.
He promised to clean up procurement systems within six months of taking office.
“I will not allow any public official to do business with the government. Public service must be about serving people, not looting,” he stated.
Matiang’i’s campaign tour received a massive boost as key Mt. Kenya political figures threw their weight behind his candidacy.
Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya officially endorsed Matiang’i for president, terming him the only competent leader who can save Kenya from economic collapse.
“He has the will and the courage to tackle corruption head-on and restore dignity to leadership,” Munya said.
Also present was Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, who assured the crowd that Mt. Kenya was firmly behind Matiang’i.
“Even if another candidate comes from Mt. Kenya, trust me, Matiang’i will beat them all at home because he is the real deal in Mt. Kenya because it is fully locked for him.” he added.
Kioni also confirmed that the Jubilee Party would back Matiang’i as their preferred presidential flag bearer in 2027.
Building a Broad Coalition
As he courts the Mt. Kenya vote, Matiang’i is also working to build a national coalition of like-minded leaders. He revealed ongoing consultations with prominent political figures, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Peter Munya, and even former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, among others.
“We are working together because we want a better country in 2027 This is not about ethnicity or tribe. It’s about competence, honesty, and integrity,” he noted.
Matiangi, at the same time, said he will soon announce the political party he will use as his political vehicle ahead of the 2027 general election.
“I’m still listening to the people and the ground. Very soon, I’ll make the big reveal,” he added.
Matiang’i pledged to steer clear of insults and divisive rhetoric, urging leaders to focus on issues that matter to Kenyans.
Speaking later in Tiamu, Meru County, he reaffirmed his commitment to mature, policy-driven politics.
“You’ll never hear me insulting anyone because Kenyans are tired. They want leadership that delivers, not leadership that shouts,” the former CS maintained.
He promised to create a corruption-free government that prioritises basic needs, affordable living, job creation, and universal free education.
“We will build a country where no child goes hungry and no family is left behind. I want to create opportunities for youths and every Kenyan, not just a few elites.”