Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has officially launched his 2027 presidential campaign on the global stage, starting with a vibrant town hall meeting in Irving, Texas. The event, held at DFW Celebrations over the weekend, attracted a diverse crowd of Kenyans living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, signaling a strategic shift in Kenyan politics toward diaspora engagement.
Matiang’i, who recently resigned from a senior World Bank role to focus on his presidential ambitions, made it clear that Kenyans living abroad will be central to his campaign. “We cannot build a future for Kenya without the diaspora,” he told attendees. “Your voice matters. Your presence counts.”
The former CS delivered a heartfelt address, mixing policy proposals with personal anecdotes and even switching to his native dialect a gesture that resonated deeply with the crowd. His message emphasized inclusive leadership, national unity, and the importance of incorporating diaspora perspectives into Kenya’s development agenda.
Banners at the event branded Matiang’i as a “visionary leader,” with hashtags such as #MatiangiThe6th and #MrFixIt reflecting his reformist image and campaign slogan. The event’s theme, A New Kenya: Shaped by Voices at Home and Abroad, underscored the dual focus of his platform bridging the gap between citizens in Kenya and those in the diaspora.
This Texas stop marks the beginning of what insiders describe as a broader international outreach strategy, aimed at mobilizing both political and financial support from Kenyan communities overseas. With the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) expected to expand voter registration for diaspora hubs ahead of the 2027 elections, Matiang’i’s early engagement could prove pivotal.
As other presidential hopefuls begin to ramp up their local campaigns, Matiang’i’s move to court the diaspora reflects a growing recognition of the political and economic power Kenyans abroad wield. His Texas appearance positions him as a candidate with global vision and deep grassroots ties an approach that may well shape the contours of the 2027 race.
For the diaspora, the message was clear: their voices will not only be heard but may also help shape the next chapter of Kenya’s leadership.
