Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is set to tour Nyamira County on Thursday, May 2, 2025, in what is widely seen as a strategic move ahead of his anticipated declaration to run for the presidency in 2027.
The high-profile visit, which will begin at 9 a.m. in Nyasiong’o, will cover Keroka, Kiumbu, Kisii Roundabout, and Ikonge Market. According to Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo, the tour is meant to consolidate Matiang’i’s support in his Gusii homeland and facilitate consultations with key regional stakeholders.
“Our Presidential candidate, Fred Matiang’i, will visit his hometown in Gusii. This journey marks the beginning of a wider engagement ahead of 2027,” Nyaribo stated, urging residents to turn out in large numbers to interact with the former CS.
While Matiang’i has yet to formally declare his presidential intentions, his recent activities and alliances have intensified speculation about his ambitions. The Nyamira tour is seen as a homecoming to seek blessings and endorsements from elders and local leaders before making a national declaration.
Matiang’i, who recently returned to the country after a period of low public visibility, has maintained a preference for private engagements. However, signs of a political comeback became clearer when he attended a pivotal meeting on April 29 in Nairobi with key opposition leaders, including Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua of Narc Kenya, Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
This was Matiang’i’s first public alignment with Gachagua’s political camp and signals ongoing efforts to forge a broad coalition aimed at challenging President William Ruto in the 2027 general elections. Former Cabinet Secretaries Mithika Linturi and Justin Muturi, alongside Mukhisa Kituyi, also participated in the meeting, which focused on building a united opposition front.
In the coming days, elders from the Gusii community are expected to hold a traditional ceremony at Gusii Stadium to formally endorse Matiang’i as a community leader and presidential contender.
As 2027 draws nearer, Matiang’i’s moves indicate the beginning of a strategic and calculated path to State House.
