Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims that he is a political project of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying such labels are misleading and do not reflect the complexity of his political journey.

In an interview aired on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Matiang’i questioned the logic behind the project tag, noting that Uhuru appointed over 30 Cabinet members during his presidency, many of whom are still active in government or politics.

“What does that mean? To be someone’s project?” he asked. “It is an indelible historical fact that Uhuru appointed me to his Cabinet and I served in his Cabinet for 10 years in three portfolios.”

 “Cumulatively, for the 10 years he was President, he appointed close to 30 or so people to his Cabinet. Some of them are still serving to this day. Others have risen to other functions. Am I a project by deed of the fact that I served in Uhuru’s Cabinet? And if it is a question of service, why not ask me if I am a project of the World Bank because I have just come from the World Bank?” he added.

Matiang’i clarified that while he has maintained communication with Uhuru on national matters, he has not sought his permission or endorsement to run for the presidency.

“I have not asked him (Uhuru) whether I should run or not, but we discuss other Kenyan affairs every time we have an opportunity.”

The former CS explained that he is still in wide consultations with various political players and is yet to commit to any specific political party ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“I am in consultations with a number of political parties and a number of political leaders across the board. I honestly think that if I made a choice now and stuck to one political party, I would disadvantage the others with whom we are having a discussion,” he said.

Matiang’i revealed that up to eight parties have approached him with offers to work together and possibly front him as their presidential candidate. He said he intends to hold broad-based discussions before settling on a political vehicle or coalition.

“I would rather have sufficient conversations and discussions with Kenyans across the board before I finally say this is the format I would like to represent myself to the IEBC. You will hear more associating themselves with me and in fact, this afternoon I’m meeting a political party which is asking if we can work together. And I have been asked this by about 7 to 8 parties.”

“It is flattering that we have political leaders in so many political parties sitting down in their Executive committees saying maybe Matiang’i should be our captain even before I ask them, and they are asking me, can you become our candidate? I don’t want to close the door on anyone, I want to have very comprehensive, inclusive and exhaustive discussions with everyone, then we come together and work on a coalition.”

He emphasised the need for unity ahead of the next elections, saying the current political climate cannot allow a single party to form government on its own.

“We are better off as a country when we work together.”

In February this year, Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni announced that the party had endorsed Matiang’i as its preferred presidential candidate, citing his close working relationship with Uhuru in the final years of his presidency.

“They (Uhuru and other leaders in his inner circle) said that they would be happy if Kenyans would accept Matiang'i as their Jubilee presidential candidate,” Kioni said.

“They also emphasised the need to ensure that we are working with other like-minded leaders who also believe that the UDA have mismanaged the affairs of this country.”

Kioni added that the endorsement did not necessarily mean Matiang’i would be the final presidential candidate, but that he would be their proposed flagbearer heading into negotiations for a broader coalition.

“We’ve settled on Matiangi as our candidate. Not to mean that he becomes an eventual presidential candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who would then join others in coming up with one person, who I believe as a coalition, we will be able to back.”