Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has thrown his weight behind former CS Fred Matiang’i as the best candidate to lead the opposition coalition into the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Monday, Kioni dismissed claims that Kalonzo Musyoka was settled on as their 2027 candidate, insisting that Matiang’i represents the best leadership option for Kenya.
“Gachagua is leaning towards Kalonzo to be the president, but Matiang’i is better than Kalonzo. He is the best person to lead this country and when I say that I am not a mole,” Kioni stated emphatically.
The Jubilee deputy leader also weighed in on the ongoing debate about Mt Kenya’s political leadership, asserting that former President Uhuru Kenyatta remains the region’s undisputed political kingpin ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Kama kuna ofisi ya Kingpin, Uhuru ndiye anayeshikilia kiti hicho kwa kila jamii,” Kioni declared, directly challenging Rigathi Gachagua’s claims to regional leadership.
Already, there is escalating tension between Gachagua’s DCP and the Jubilee Party over political influence in the Mt Kenya region, with the two parties going at each other’s neck in the Olkalou by-election slated for July 16th.
Kioni suggested that Gachagua’s preference for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as opposition flagbearer is driven by strategic considerations rather than genuine support.
According to the Jubilee official, Kalonzo poses minimal threat to Gachagua’s political base in Mt Kenya, making him a more comfortable choice for the DCP leader.
In contrast, Matiang’i’s candidacy is seen as a direct challenge to Gachagua’s DCP party.
Kioni further claimed that Gachagua is particularly uneasy about former President Kenyatta’s influence over Matiang’i, which could potentially reshape the political landscape in the Mt Kenya region.
