Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Fred Matiang’i has issued a stern warning to political actors to cease dragging retired President Uhuru Kenyatta into current partisan disputes, terming the recent onslaught of attacks as distinctively “dishonest” and “politically motivated.” Speaking following a high-stakes National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nairobi, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary accused a faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of using the former Head of State as a scapegoat to deflect from the current administration’s performance challenges.
Matiang’i, who has recently emerged as the face of the revitalized Jubilee Party ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle, argued that the sustained narrative blaming Kenyatta for opposition instability is a calculated diversion. “The Jubilee Party is clear: these attacks against former President Uhuru Kenyatta are attempts to create a bogyman for a government that is struggling to maintain public confidence,” Matiang’i stated, urging leaders to focus on addressing the pressing economic grievances facing Kenyans rather than fighting retired leaders.
The defense comes against a backdrop of fracturing within the opposition coalition. Following the establishment of a “broad-based government” arrangement between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, a rift has emerged within the orange party. One faction, aligning closely with the government, has accused Kenyatta of financing dissent and sabotaging the cooperation deal. Conversely, another wing led by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has maintained ties with the former President, even issuing a public apology to Kenyatta for the hostility displayed by party colleagues. Matiang’i’s intervention solidifies Jubilee’s stance as an independent opposition entity, distancing itself from the ODM-government pact.
During the press briefing, Matiang’i did not mince words regarding the accusations leveled by senior ODM figures, including National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who have previously suggested Kenyatta’s hand in political instability. The former “Super CS” challenged these leaders to provide accountability for their current governance roles rather than looking backward. “Those invoking our Party Leader’s name should stop,” he warned, emphasizing that Kenyatta has maintained a dignified silence and adhered to the retirement tradition of non-interference.
The tension highlights the complex realignment of Kenyan politics as the country inches closer to the 2027 General Election. With Matiang’i now positioned as Jubilee’s presidential flagbearer, his defense of Kenyatta serves a dual purpose: protecting his political patron and asserting his own authority as a principled opposition leader. He cited rampant corruption, punitive taxation, and economic decline as the genuine sources of public dissatisfaction, dismissing the notion that a retired president holds the switch to the nation’s mood.
As the political temperature rises, the Jubilee Party has signaled it will continue to aggressively counter any narratives that seek to tarnish Kenyatta’s legacy. Matiang’i concluded the address by reaffirming the party’s commitment to “reclaim good governance and the rule of law,” hinting at upcoming strategic alliances with civil society and progressive partners outside the current government-opposition hybrid arrangement.
