Jubilee Deputy Party leader Fred Matiang’i has issued fresh demands to the United Opposition, stating that he will not accept the outcome of the opposition’s flagbearer selection if the process is not conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Matiang’i was speaking on Wednesday after receiving a major boost to his State House ambitions, following the decision by the Party of National Unity (PNU) to endorse his Presidential bid ahead of the 2027 polls.
The former Cabinet Secretary insisted that the coalition must involve multiple stakeholders including members of the public to ensure the process remains credible.
“From where I sit, it ought to be an inclusive process, because in alliance building, process is as important as the outcome itself, because if you have five candidates, you are going to go through a process where four are going to come back without being nominated flagbearers. They must have a credible conviction to tell their supporters that we went through this process and we settled on X or Y candidate,” Matiangi noted.
“If our interests are unity, then there is no substitute for inclusion, including the public. by ensuring we are open and transparent about these issues. The people of Kenya should be included in the process,” he added.
Matiang’i maintain that the selection process must inspire public confidence, assuring Kenyans that whoever emerges as the flagbearer will embody their aspirations.
“We must have a credible basis of conviction to show all our supporters how we will arrive at our candidate. We cannot operate on the basis of conspiracy, as our interest is unity. There is nothing to hide,” he noted.
On his part, PNU Party Leader Peter Munya, noted that the party will also participate in the selection process. He called for a sit-down between the opposition leaders, in order to agree on the guiding conditions.
Matiang’i’s statement comes at a time when key opposition figures have declared their intention to compete against President William Ruto in the upcoming general elections. They have however pledged to rally behind whoever is selected to fly the opposition’s flag.
The key figures in the United Opposition Coalition include former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua of PLP, DAP-K’s Eugine Wamalwa and Justine Muturi of DP.
