Fred Matiang’i, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary, re-emerged on the political stage Monday, joining a powerful line-up of opposition leaders in Nairobi as momentum builds toward the 2027 presidential race.
It was Matiang’i’s first public appearance alongside former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and a signal, insiders say, that the once-quiet technocrat is preparing to take a more active political role after months of silence.
Also at the table were Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, and former Cabinet Secretaries Mithika Linturi and Justin Muturi — a diverse mix of seasoned political hands and regional heavyweights.
“We will be meeting on Tuesday, and from that meeting, you are going to see a united team ready to liberate this country,” Gachagua told Weru TV ahead of the gathering.
Held behind closed doors at a location in the capital, the meeting was described as both strategic and symbolic — a coming together of leaders once politically distant but now united by a shared goal: defeating President William Ruto in the next general election.
Over the past week, Matiang’i has quietly met with regional leaders and allies in private, avoiding cameras and public statements. His appearance on Monday, therefore, marked a notable shift.
Though no joint statement was issued, the meeting is understood to have focused on early coalition building, candidate negotiations, and creating a national movement broad enough to challenge Ruto’s political machinery.
A crowded field — but one ticket
Gachagua, who has declared his own presidential ambitions, has called for calm within the opposition, insisting that competition among allies is healthy and temporary.
“I am vying for the presidency, as are Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, and Eugene Wamalwa,” he said. “In the end, we shall talk and agree to back one candidate. Even if it’s not me, I will support whoever we settle on.”
He added that the opposition would rely on polling and independent analysis to determine the most viable candidate — a move intended to head off bitter infighting that has splintered past coalitions.
Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka, both veterans of past unity efforts, have yet to formally declare their 2027 intentions, though each commands a loyal base.
Wamalwa, who once served under President Uhuru Kenyatta, is also seen as a potential running mate depending on how the final alliance shapes up.
Matiang’i’s next move?
Though he returned from the United States weeks ago, Matiang’i had kept out of the public eye until now. He has yet to comment publicly on his political ambitions, but Monday’s appearance suggests he may not remain on the sidelines for long.
Next week could bring more clarity.
A major event is scheduled at Gusii Stadium, where elders from the Gusii community are expected to formally anoint Matiang’i as their preferred national leader. The ceremony, described by organisers as “significant”, is expected to attract prominent figures from across the political divide.
While his allies speak of him as a “safe pair of hands,” critics question whether he has the grassroots appeal to mount a serious challenge.
Eyes on Mt. Kenya
Meanwhile, Gachagua is preparing to launch his own political vehicle next month, designed to consolidate his grip on the Mt. Kenya region. He has repeatedly called for unity in the opposition and expressed confidence that the region will not fragment under pressure from the ruling coalition.
Whether that unity holds, however, remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the race to 2027 has begun early, and the opposition, once fractured and reactive, is now trying to write its own script.
“This time,” one insider said, “no one wants to wait until the last minute.”
