Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i was on Friday, December 20, spotted interacting with members of the public in Kitui County.
This marks his first public appearance following reports that he might be contesting for the presidency in the 2027 General Elections.
In November 2024, media reports indicated that Matiang'i had engaged the Canadian lobbying firm Dickens & Madson to bolster his campaign.
It was reported that Matiang'i paid Ksh8.4 million as a down payment and agreed to a Ksh32.3 million annual retainer for the firm's services.
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Just recently, the United Progressive Alliance Party (UPA) endorsed Matiang'i as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
During a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nyamira on Wednesday, December 18, UPA members unanimously agreed to nominate Matiang’i as the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming presidential race.
“We have no doubt that Dr Matiang’i’s popularity in the country is undeniable, and the party’s decision to prepare for his candidacy has been widely appreciated across the nation,” UPA Secretary General Jacob Bagaka said
Matiang'i's political career began with his appointment as the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) in April 2013, under President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Come November 2015, he was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education, Science, and Technology.
During his tenure, Matiang'i implemented reforms to curb exam malpractices, including restructuring the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and enhancing the security of national exams.
Matiang'i was later appointed Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government following the death of Joseph Ole Nkaissery in 2017.
After leaving government service in October 2022, Matiang'i largely stayed out of the limelight until his public appearance in Kitui.
