Jubilee Party presidential aspirant Fred Matiang’i has intensified his grassroots campaigns, courting women leaders in Kiambu County and positioning himself as a leader focused on public service, accountability and national unity ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking during a meeting with women drawn from various groups across Kiambu County, Matiang’i said meaningful national transformation begins at the grassroots, where communities best understand their challenges and are prepared to participate in finding solutions.
“I had the pleasure of engaging with women leaders from across Kiambu County. Our discussions reaffirmed that lasting national transformation begins at the grassroots, where communities understand their challenges best and are ready to be part of the solutions,” he said.
He praised the women of Kiambu for what he described as their resilience, leadership and commitment to strengthening communities, pledging to continue building grassroots political structures while ensuring every Kenyan’s voice is heard.
The former Cabinet Secretary used the forum to outline his leadership philosophy, saying he is entering elective politics after years in public service and believes leaders should be judged by action rather than rhetoric.
“I am a person of action. Wherever there is work to be done, I go there, do the work and move on,” Matiang’i told the gathering.
He also conveyed condolences to one of the party’s grassroots leaders, Njerii, describing her as a committed Jubilee official who remains closely connected to ordinary wananchi. He promised to return for a larger meeting expected to bring together about 4,000 women from Kiambu County, accompanied by his wife, who he said would also seek their support.
Throughout his address, Matiang’i repeatedly stressed that leadership is about service rather than status, saying elected leaders must remain accessible to the people and personally supervise government programmes.
Recalling his tenure as Education Cabinet Secretary, he said he regularly visited schools instead of relying solely on reports from officials, arguing that leaders must witness challenges firsthand if they are to solve them effectively.
He defended his tough administrative style, saying public servants should be held personally accountable for negligence that endangers lives. According to Matiang’i, government officials entrusted with public resources must always put citizens’ welfare first.
The Jubilee presidential hopeful also criticized what he termed declining accountability in public service, arguing that Kenya requires decisive leadership capable of enforcing the law equally regardless of status.
He lamented the hardships facing ordinary Kenyans, citing cases of mothers unable to pay hospital bills, patients reportedly lacking essential services and struggling families burdened by the high cost of living. He said no Kenyan should continue suffering because of inefficiency or poor governance.
Matiang’i credited the previous administration for programmes such as Linda Mama, saying they helped improve maternal healthcare, while also recalling infrastructure projects and water programmes undertaken during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.
He pledged that if elected president, his administration would prioritise prudent management of public resources, strengthen public institutions and channel more funding towards education, healthcare and other essential services.
According to Matiang’i, corruption and wastage continue to deny Kenyans quality public services, adding that money lost through mismanagement should instead finance schools, hospitals and other development projects.
Appealing directly to women voters, Matiang’i described mothers as the foundation of society and indispensable partners in national development.
“No country can move forward without mothers. Women are the foundation of our society,” he said, urging them to mobilise communities around integrity, development and peaceful coexistence.
He also called for issue-based politics, urging Kenyans to reject ethnic divisions and instead support leaders capable of delivering effective services regardless of their backgrounds.
“When people go to hospital, they do not ask the tribe of the doctor treating them. They simply want treatment. Politics should be no different,” he said.
Matiang’i further pledged that his administration would emphasize discipline, accountability and efficiency across government institutions, promising to personally monitor service delivery if entrusted with the presidency.
“I am not looking for conflict with anyone. I only know work. Give me the opportunity to serve and we shall organise our country properly,” he told the women.
During the event, Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni rallied support for Matiang’i’s presidential bid, describing him as a leader whose commitment and work ethic had earned widespread admiration within the party.
Kioni, speaking lightheartedly, joked that he had “fallen in love with Matiang’i” because of his leadership qualities before urging supporters to unite behind the Jubilee presidential hopeful.
He said the party was transitioning from years of opposing the government to presenting Kenyans with what he termed a credible alternative leadership focused on restoring efficient governance and improving citizens’ livelihoods.
The meeting forms part of Jubilee Party’s ongoing nationwide grassroots mobilisation as the party seeks to rebuild its support base and position Matiang’i as its presidential flagbearer ahead of the next general election.
