Former Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i launched his presidential bid in Kuria West, rallying local residents to back his candidacy as the definitive solution to endemic land grabbing and illegal titling in the region.
Addressing a crowd in Kehancha town during the opening leg of his Kuria tour, the Jubilee Party Deputy Leader accused the current administration of irregularly issuing title deeds without adhering to legal frameworks.
He stated that this practice has fueled deadly boundary conflicts among residents fighting for their ancestral property.
Matiang’i declared that the only lasting solution to land grabbing by politically connected elites is electing a leader committed to defending civil rights and restoring constitutional order.
“The only solution you have to tame this issue of land grabbing by a few individuals is voting for a leader who will genuinely fight for your rights,” Matiang’i told the gathering.
The presidential aspirant disclosed that opposition leaders are currently preparing for roundtable consultations to build a united front capable of unseating President William Ruto in the next General Election.
He urged the Kuria community to maintain peace and cross-party unity, emphasizing that political seasons are temporary.
Scathing attacks on the executive
Matiang’i was accompanied by several opposition lawmakers who launched direct attacks on the Kenya Kwanza administration’s governance record.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka castigated President Ruto over alleged institutional corruption, tribalism, and human rights abuses, asserting that the country is heading in the wrong direction.
“The President has done nothing to improve the lives of ordinary Kenyans. Instead, the administration is busy grabbing public land, selectively employing people from one region, and taking the lives of young, innocent Kenyans,” Onyonka alleged, promising that an opposition administration would repossess and restore all illegally acquired land in Kuria to its rightful owners.
Echoing these sentiments, Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi attributed the country’s economic distress, alongside systemic failures in the health and education sectors, directly to Executive mismanagement. He urged the electorate to reject President Ruto at the ballot box.
Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Mbane Gesairo further accused the Head of State of eroding national security structures, claiming the executive leadership had effectively undermined the country’s safety apparatus.
Broadside against Rigathi Gachagua
Kibagendi also directed a stern warning to impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his political rhetoric, urging the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader to stop marginalizing minority groups.
While expressing the opposition’s willingness to collaborate with Gachagua, Kibagendi laid down strict conditions regarding national inclusivity and political decorum.
“Tone down your temper. You found us in the opposition defending the rights of Kenyans; you only joined us because you were impeached,” Kibagendi stated. “Respect yourself and stop setting geographical boundaries for other leaders.”
Kibagendi was responding to reports that Gachagua had warned the Linda Mwananchi movement against holding political activities in Meru County. The MP noted that the movement similarly included leaders from Meru and rejected attempts to dictate political jurisdictions.
“Kikuyus are good people, but Gachagua is driving division through ethnic politics and numbers-based chauvinism,” Kibagendi added, calling on smaller communities to pool their political strength to prevent marginalization by major ethnic blocs.
Jubilee endorsement
Defending the movement’s candidate, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni praised Matiang’i’s public service track record, citing his stewardship of the Education and Interior portfolios during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
Kioni highlighted that Matiang’i’s tenure remained untainted by corruption, tribalism, or ethnic bias, formally confirming the party’s endorsement of his presidential ambitions.
The rallies, which made stops across Masaba, Kehancha, Ikerege, and Isebania in Kuria West, mark the beginning of a sustained grassroots campaign to popularize Matiang’i’s candidacy.
The delegation is scheduled to extend its consultative tour to Kuria East Constituency for its second day of engagements.
