Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has accused former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua of attempting to bully former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and dictate his political path.
Speaking on Monday, September 29, 2025, during a media interview, Kioni claimed that Gachagua deliberately sidelined Matiang’i during key political meetings.
“When Matiang’i was attending meetings with them, they would always write his name as if he had no party. And on several occasions, they told him directly, ‘Don’t join Jubilee,’” Kioni alleged.
He recalled one incident where Gachagua publicly told Matiang’i to “go to Kisii, form a village party and then come to negotiate with DCP,” a move Kioni says was meant to belittle the former CS.
Matiang’i, who launched his presidential bid in Mt Kenya in August, has remained defiant, insisting that no amount of threats or inducements will push him out of the 2027 race.
“I cannot be bought, bullied, or backed out of the 2027 presidential race. This is my mission to fix the nation, fight corruption, and rescue Kenya from failed leadership,” he declared at a rally in Laikipia.
Analysts say the rising political rivalry between Matiang’i, Gachagua, and President Ruto sets the stage for high-stakes battles ahead of 2027, particularly in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
