Matiang'i declares joining Jubilee Party

Presidential hopeful and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has formally declared joining the Jubilee Party, ending speculations over his choice of a political vehicle.

Matiang’i disclosed that he had accepted former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s request to join Jubilee after attending the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) last month.

Although he never spoke during the NDC, the ex-minister said he had now taken over Jubilee and would start rebuilding it into a national movement.

“I am declaring openly that I have joined Jubilee. As we said during the NDC, it's time to join the Jubilee Party,” he said while meeting members of the Abagusii community living in Mavoko, Machakos County, on Sunday.

In embracing his former boss Uhuru Kenyatta’s party, the former CS likened it to an initiation ceremony where an initiate must be escorted.  

“All these aspirants who are here eyeing different seats should now wear Jubilee Party colours during our next meeting. I also have my Jubilee Party hat here,” Matiang’i told his allies.

He added that in transforming the party, he will soon embark on opening offices in several parts of the country, starting from Embakasi and Kitengela, while the party will soon announce election dates for officials.

“We will soon meet to announce the grassroots elections as we seek to rejuvenate the party,” Matiang’i said.

He was accompanied by Nyamira Senator Okongo Omogeni and MPs Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South) and Muthoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri).

Last weekend, Matiang’i, who was in Nakuru, defended his moves, saying no one has the right to choose for him his associations, saying Kenya is a democracy where leaders must accept the rights of others to choose where they belong.

On Sunday night, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, who was on KTN for an interview, stated that he had no problem with  Matiang’i’s choice of party.

Gachagua stated that the mood of the country was for the opposition to unite and defeat William Ruto.

“The next election will be a two-horse race, like it happened in 2002. It will be the United Opposition versus William Ruto, and we will win by 70 plus one per cent. Any attempt to go it alone will be like in 2002, where Mwai Kibaki under Narc got 62 per cent, Uhuru 36 per cent and Simeon Nyachae 5 per cent,” Gachagua said.

The former Deputy President mentioned Matiang’i as one of the key pillars in the united opposition.