Matiang’i sounds alarm over rising pre-election bribery
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary and 2027 presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i has raised the red flag over escalating levels of voter bribery long before the next general election.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Matiang’i accused politicians of frustrating campaign finance reforms while at the same time being the biggest offenders.
You might also like
Also Watch: Fred Matiang’i hints at 2027 presidential bid
He also raised concerns that leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza government, who are supposed to enact the campaign financing laws, are the ones who have already started engaging in voter bribery ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The people to enact campaign financing laws are the greatest offenders. That is why you see bribery has started two years before an election. And I keep telling Kenyans, you haven’t seen anything yet,” he said.
Matiang’i’s concerns follow a warning by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga against early and persistent campaigning.
He went ahead to express concerns that the lack of campaign financing laws has led Kenyans to elect corrupt and ‘wash wash’ people into office.
President William Ruto has, in the recent past, been criticised for organising meetings to lure Kenyans ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ruto’s meetings criticised
For instance, Embakasi North Member of Parliament (MP) James Gakuya has called out the head of state for using State House as a tool to lure voters to rally behind him.
According to the lawmaker, Ruto’s recent invitation of sections of Kenyans to the State House is a misuse of power and a strategy to hold voters.
Gakuya made his remarks on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, during an interview with a local media house, where he accused Ruto of starting early campaigns at State House.
“He can dictate anything because he’s the president. This is total misuse of power, and what we are saying, Mr President, is you can do it to hold voters because what you are doing is you have started this early campaign today,” Gakuya said.
Gakuya further schooled Ruto for starting early campaigns, yet there are still various pending and unfinished needy programmes that have not been fulfilled by his government.
“…you have forgotten that in fact you have various numbers of needy programmes that you have not fulfilled,” he added.
