Matiang’i: Why opposition coalition talks won’t be easy

By  Winnie Atieno

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• Dr Matiang'i said opposition parties are still holding discussions on how to settle on a single presidential candidate.
• The former Interior CS said the outcome of the ongoing discussions would be announced once they are concluded.

Jubilee Party leader Dr Fred Matiang’i has acknowledged the uphill task facing Kenya’s opposition as rival parties and presidential hopefuls seek to forge a united coalition against President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Dr Matiang'i said opposition parties and presidential candidates are still holding discussions on how to settle on a single presidential candidate and running mate.

Speaking in Mombasa a day after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna unveiled The Equitable Party (TEP) as his political vehicle for the 2027 presidential race, Dr Matiang'i said the outcome of the ongoing discussions would be announced once they are concluded.

“One critical criterion of how we are going to succeed in that conversation is to absolutely respect each party, each presidential candidate, each party leader and each interest. Even a political party that has two members counts. Everyone counts,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i acknowledged the difficulty of forming a coalition involving several parties and presidential candidates, saying the process required the parties to accommodate different interests and personalities.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. It is tough. Coalition building is one of the toughest experiences in political practice because you are bringing six parties together, six platforms, six presidential candidates, six sets of ambitions, six characters and six egos and all that, trying to bring them together in one room and build a relationship and end up with a team. It is not easy, but we are hopeful that God will guide us,” Dr Matiang’i said.

Apart from Dr Matiang’i and Mr Sifuna, the other leaders associated with the United Opposition are Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF), Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-Kenya, and Justin Muturi of the Democratic Party (DP).

Dr Matiang’i was speaking when he began his Coast tour on Monday, two days after President Ruto concluded his eight-day development tour of the region.

He criticised the President, saying he failed to address questions surrounding the Sh2 trillion Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project which he launched alongside four Heads of State in Lamu on September 30.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary said the government should disclose the agreement between Kenya and Nigerian businessman Mr Aliko Dangote, arguing that Kenyans have a right to know the terms of major projects being undertaken in the country.

The Jubilee party leader said his administration would prioritise transparency and respect for Coast residents and the country.

“This time, when we or wananchi ask questions about the decisions the government is taking and it is meant to look like it’s a crime, then it elicits insults and so on. What they are asking are very basic questions: What did you agree and how did you agree? I don’t know why you should be abused for asking that question, especially when you are asking your leader,” he said.

Preferred presidential candidate

Dr Matiang’i faulted what he described as the language used by some leaders in the current administration, saying he would continue to engage in public debate with respect and integrity. He added that Jubilee respects the Constitution and State offices but would not stop questioning government decisions.

“If you choose to abuse us because that is your way of life, there is nothing we can do. As an adult, when someone asks you a question, you answer; you don’t insult them back,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i said the government has alternative ways to make agreements with investors transparent if there could be legitimate reasons why some details of agreements could not be released publicly. According to him, Parliament should have access to such information.

“If you have a problem with the public or going to press conferences to do that disclosure, we have departmental committees in the House led by elected leaders. Go before them and disclose to them and then work with them if there is confidentiality and so on. In turn, those leaders will explain to the people. That is how a democratic environment works,” he explained.

Dr Matiang’i said the same approach should apply to mining concessions, citing what he described as challenges in the relationship between the Executive and Parliament over accountability. He cited the proposed concessioning of Mrima Hill in Kwale as an example of an issue that, in his view, required greater consultation with local leaders and residents.

“If I was the President today, we would not have debates about concessioning in Mrima Hill. I would have called the governor in Kwale, the county assembly, had a meeting and Kenyans would know what is going on because there is no reason why you should be operating in secrecy, and this affects the people of this region,” he said.

Dr Matiang’i said Jubilee would seek to build on projects implemented in the Coast during the administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and promised to unlock the region’s blue economy if elected.

“We should be grateful to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and the team in Jubilee. A lot of phenomenal things were done here in Coast when he was in power. We are reassuring the people of this region that with your support, approval and votes, we are willing to get back and continue the journey from where we left,” he said.

During the meeting, Kadu Asili party leader Mr Mudzo Nzili announced that his party would work with Jubilee and declared Dr Matiang’i its preferred presidential candidate.

Dr Matiang’i said he had an agenda for the Coast, including creating jobs and changing how the region’s resources are managed.

“We are sitting here looking at how we are going to provide jobs to the people of Coast, how we are going to manage resources differently from what is being done by this administration,” he said.

He added that Jubilee would seek to build on projects implemented in the Coast during the administration of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and promised to unlock the region’s blue economy if elected.

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