Orwoba: I will withdraw my support for Matiang’i if he aligns with Raila
Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has declared that she would withdraw her support if Azimio leader Raila Odinga were to abandon the broad-based government arrangement and align himself with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Speaking at a local TV station on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Orwoba said such a move would cast doubt on the sincerity of the opposition’s agenda.
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“Myself, the day Raila Odinga leaves the broad-based government and joins Fred Matiang’i, I will not be part of that movement. Because then, I won’t believe it. I will not believe that the intentions will be clear,” she said.
Also watch: Raila rubbishes Matiangi’s quest for Presidency.
She argued that Raila’s long association with the current broad-based government makes it difficult to accept that he could join Matiang’i.
“There is a lot of talk that Raila wants to leave the broad-based government and join Matiang’i. There are things that, even as a politician, I see happening, and I will know that we are doomed,” Orwoba stated.
The former senator warned that political coalitions formed under questionable intentions risk collapsing and misleading Kenyans.
“We might be sitting in the same merry-go-round where you are pushing change because you want to liberate the country, and then, ahead of time, people join in. You think they are forthright, but a month or two down the line, they start telling you they actually have a candidate in William Ruto. I don’t think it will be wise,” she cautioned.
Kioni
Her remarks come a few days after Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni backed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as the ideal candidate to face President William Ruto in the 2027 general election.
Speaking at a local TV station on Monday, September 29, 2025, Kioni stated that Kenyans are yearning for a leader who is not a career politician but a manager who can unify the country and address its challenges decisively.
He argued that Matiang’i fits the bill, citing his appeal across tribes, regions, and social classes.
“Kenyans should field a presidential candidate who will deal with President William Ruto one touch, and I believe that candidate is Fred Matiang’i. Not because he is in Jubilee, but because he seems to attract support from across all tribes, regions and cadres of society,” Kioni said.
The Jubilee SG noted that while Matiang’i is already a member of the party and attended its National Delegates Conference (NDC), his appeal goes beyond partisan lines.
“He seems to fit the bill where Kenyans are saying they don’t want a politician, they want a manager. If that candidate comes from Jubilee, we will be happy to support him. At the point when the bell is rang, we will rally behind him all of us,” he added.
