Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu this morning on TV47 offered a sober assessment of Kenya’s shifting political terrain, arguing that the 2027 contest cannot be understood without factoring in Raila Odinga.
“Anyone underestimating Raila’s influence is not being honest,” Wambugu said on TV47’s morning political show. He noted that Odinga’s strategy has always included both a Plan A to win power and a Plan B to negotiate post-election settlements. “For one man to remain relevant across four presidencies, I give it to him — he knows what he’s doing.”
Turning to former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, Wambugu drew a parallel with Donald Trump. “Trump had never been elected anywhere before he ran for president, yet he won. Why should we region-hold Matiang’i? He has the freedom to chart his path,” he said. He praised Matiang’i for “breaking the trend of building a new party every election,” describing him as a leader seeking endorsement through existing institutions rather than personal vehicles.
Wambugu insisted that Jubilee remains central in this conversation. “If it’s about name recognition, everybody in Kenya knows Jubilee. If it’s about members, we still have seven million on our books,” he declared. He dismissed speculation of the party’s collapse as wishful thinking: “Some people hoped Jubilee would disappear so they could take over. That hasn’t happened.”
He emphasized that Jubilee’s endorsement of Matiang’i was significant because it came from a party not traditionally associated with his Kisii base. “That already puts him ahead,” Wambugu said.
Wambugu also issued a warning to fellow opposition leaders: “Being in opposition doesn’t make you a saint. You can be in opposition and still be a devil — and we will call you out now, before you get to government.”
