Jubilee Party Starts Nationwide Tour To Sell Matiang’i Presidency

Jubilee Party has started campaigns to popularise former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate in the next elections.

Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni recently led party officials to Nyamira County, Matiangi’s backyard, where they drummed up support for the former CS’s presidential bid.

He also ruled out the possibility of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua being on the ballot.

“If a person has been impeached by the Senate there is no court that can reverse the decision. Gachagua has now joined the club of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and now Kawira Mwangaza of Meru who were impeached by the Senate,” said Kioni.

He dismissed what he termed cheap propaganda by the ruling party, UDA, that the Mt Kenya region could field a presidential candidate to divide  Matiang’i’s support.

Kioni said Mt Kenya has dominated the presidency and the region should support a candidate from another region, particularly those who come from small tribes like Matiang’i.

The official asked Kenyans to support Matiang’i, saying he was the only person who would fix the economic, political, security and social issues caused by President William Ruto’s regime.

He lashed out at President Ruto’s leadership.

“How can a president spend much of his time on top of vehicles, campaigning instead of sitting in his office addressing challenges facing Kenyans like insecurity, health services and deteriorating education standards?” he posed.

Kioni criticised Ruto for subjecting Kenyans to hard conditions of living because of over-borrowing.

He said Ruto had borrowed more money within the two years he has been in power compared to what his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta borrowed in his 10-year tenure.

“The president has borrowed Sh5.2 trillion within the short time he has been in office compared to Uhuru Kenyatta’s Sh6.2 trillion in his entire stay in office,” he said.

Kioni said delivered in his assignments.

The secretary-general accused Ruto of ignoring projects that had been initiated by his predecessor.

He disclosed that there are talks between Matiang’i, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

According to Kioni, the Ruto and Raila Odinga political union was inconsequential and would not go far.

“Jubilee Party cannot be ignored in the formation of the next government owing to the fact that its current voter membership is 7.1 million compared to Raila’s ODM which is 5 million members.

According to Kioni, the Ruto administration had lost grip of 29 counties which he noted are key in determining the outcome of the next presidential polls.

Politicians from Nyamira led by the party’s branch chairman Ben Nyabunga said that the Kisii would vote for Matiang’i as a bloc.

Nyabunga said Matiang’i deserved the seat given his record.