Why climbing Mt Kenya is a hurdle for Matiang'i

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s ability to endear himself to the masses in the Mt Kenya region has been called into question after some Jubilee leaders accused him of being held hostage by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua.

The leaders claim Matiang’i, who is the Jubilee Party deputy leader, has failed to take charge of the party in terms of mobilisation and branding during Opposition meetings.

Led by Jeremiah Kioni, one of the four deputy party leaders, the aspirants say only DCP candidates are handed the microphone to address gatherings, while Jubilee aspirants are denied the opportunity to ‘sell’ their candidature.

The former Jubilee Secretary General said candidates wishing to vie on the party’s ticket would in future hold parallel rallies alongside those organised by Opposition leaders.

“I was denied a chance to address the people of Ndaragwa, the people I have led for over ten years. The person with the microphone has always been Gachagua, who ends up inviting DCP candidates rather than those from other parties. We understand that he wants to turn Mt Kenya green, but we too want to turn Mt Kenya red. If we are not careful, we will not get the opportunity to popularise ourselves,” he said.

Kioni, however, maintained that despite raising concerns about DCP sidelining Jubilee aspirants, particularly in the Mt Kenya region, his party remained committed to Opposition unity.

“We are happy with how Gachagua is ‘dealing’ with Ruto, but being in a coalition does not mean we should not promote our candidates to the people. Mt Kenya is our stronghold, and we will do everything possible to ensure it supports Jubilee,” Kioni added.

Separately, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu accused Matiang’i of abandoning the Jubilee Party, saying he had not raised any concerns about Gachagua’s conduct towards Jubilee.

“Has Matiang’i given up on Jubilee? This would explain why he has no problem associating with Gachagua, even as he receives ‘defectors’ from Jubilee into his party. We may wake up one day to find that he, too, has defected to DCP,” he said.

Wambugu was reacting to the defection of former Jubilee legislators to the DCP during a visit to Gachagua.

Among the former MPs who decamped to the DCP are Kabinga Wathayu (Mwea), Munene Wambugu (Kirinyaga Central), Gichuki Mugambi (Othaya), Gichuhi Mwangi (Tetu), Anthony Kiai (Mukurweini), Peter Mwathi (Limuru), and Wainaina Jungle (Thika Town).

Wambugu said Gachagua was weakening Jubilee by recruiting its aspirants in the Mt Kenya region ahead of next year’s election.

“He intends to cannibalise Jubilee to build his party, which is why I have a problem with Matiang’i. As he continues to associate happily with Gachagua and show him goodwill, Gachagua is using that opportunity to identify our Jubilee aspirants in Mt Kenya and then go back to them behind Matiang’i’s back and ‘invite’ them to his party,” the former MP said.

Last week, a section of Jubilee aspirants wrote to former President Uhuru Kenyatta demanding an explanation on how the decision to declare Matiang’i the party’s presidential candidate was reached, and whether he was the party’s “sole and exclusive candidate”.

“If so, the basis upon which that decision was reached; whether there exists room within the party constitution and democratic framework for other qualified members to challenge for the presidential ticket; whether members who may have reservations about Dr Matiang’i’s leadership style and capacity are permitted, within party rules, to propose and support an alternative candidate,” the letter signed by Wambugu reads.

The aspirants said Matiang’i should not automatically become the party’s candidate and that other leaders with presidential ambitions should be allowed to compete against him.

“This means that no individual should be perceived as being beyond challenge — and no decision should be deemed unquestionable if we are to uphold our national and party democratic principles,” Wambugu said in the letter.

Jubilee Secretary-General Moitalel Ole Kenta later accused Wambugu of failing to adhere to party procedures by writing directly to Uhuru instead of addressing him as the party’s spokesperson.

“I have seen some people writing to our party leader asking questions. I would like to tell those people — whether they are Jubilee members, members of other parties, or even moles — that I am the SG of the Jubilee Party and the procedure is very clear: you address the party through me. I advise the person who wrote the letter to redirect it to me or come to my office, and I will address their grievances,” he said.

He, however, sought to assure Jubilee candidates that they would be supported by the party all the way to the ballot.

The Jubilee Party is split into two factions: one that supports Matiang’i’s dalliance with Gachagua, such as blogger Pauline Njoroge, and another led by Wambugu that wants the former Cabinet Secretary to part ways with the former Deputy President.