Kioni warns 2027 will punish weak leaders, backs Matiang'i as Jubilee's best hope

Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has declared that Kenya’s increasingly informed voters will no longer tolerate self-serving leaders, warning that the 2027 elections will bring a reckoning for those clinging to old political tricks.

Speaking on Spice FM on Monday, May 5, Kioni doubled down on his push for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to front Jubilee’s comeback, framing Matiang’i not just as a party man but as a leader equipped to meet the demands of a sharper electorate.

“I keep vouching for Matiang’i because he has shown real interest in building our party. For any political promise to be delivered, we need a strong party,” said Kioni.

Kioni’s statement comes days after Matiang’i officially announced his intention to contest the presidency in 2027.

Matiang’i made the declaration in Kisii on Friday during his maiden return to the region after a long absence since 2022, when Kenya Kwanza took over the reins of power.

On Sunday, May 5, Matiang’i made a surprise appearance at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri, attending a thanksgiving service alongside several opposition leaders, including Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Action Party of Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa.

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Residents broke into song and dance when Matiang’i arrived, welcoming him warmly despite earlier speculation on social media that he would skip the event.

“The struggle of today is not altogether for today – it is for a vast future also. Our resolve for a better Kenya remains unparalleled. We will make big sacrifices for this country beyond personal goals and ambitions for the sake of our children. We have spoken in one relentless voice and commitment. Our country must prosper with a great promise to clean our country from the dealers,” said Gachagua during the event.

However, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed has dismissed the new opposition alliance led by Gachagua, Kalonzo, Karua and Matiang’i, calling the coalition a recycled outfit with no fresh ideas.

 Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Migori County attended by President William Ruto, Junet, who is the National Assembly Minority Leader, ridiculed the alliance’s unveiling as political theatre that offers nothing new to Kenyans.

“The photo we saw, they called ‘Odyssey of Hope, New Dawn,’ betrays them. What is new in those leaders? These are the same people we have struggled with and they never made a mark in the country. It is like comedy has returned to politics,” noted Junet.

The alliance, which recently launched its campaign in Kisii County with a rallying cry of “Ruto Must Go,” has drawn criticism from Kenya Kwanza leaders who accuse it of recycling outdated slogans. Junet said Matiang’i’s presidential bid was uninspiring.

 “People had high expectations for Matiang’i’s declaration. Instead, he launched what we have heard for years, ‘Ruto Must Go.’ That slogan does not need a launch. Just grab a mic in Nairobi and shout it,” he added.

Kioni warned that Matiang’i would face resistance if chosen, as the policies needed to fix deep-seated problems would rattle entrenched political players.

“He must be brave enough to lead and implement programmes that may be unpopular with others,” said Kioni.

He argued that 2027 will be unlike past elections, saying Kenyans now have wider access to information and are better able to judge leaders on both their track records and their intentions.

“Kenyans today are informed. They understand when borrowing is being wasted and are capable of spotting leaders who are only interested in self-preservation,” said Kioni.

He pointed to past controversies, including the violent scenes in parliament during the June 2024 Gen Z protests, warning that public anger over such events will carry into the ballot box.

“No matter how much you try to silence the media, Kenyans will not forget events like the blood parliament,” noted Kioni.