Boost for Matiang’i as PNU endorses his 2027 presidential bid
Jubilee Party presidential candidate Dr. Fred Matiang’i has declared that he will not accept any decision by the opposition coalition on its presidential flag bearer unless the process is free, transparent and inclusive.
This comes after Matiang’i’s State House bid received a major boost when the Party of National Unity (PNU) formally resolved not to field a presidential candidate in 2027, instead throwing its full support behind him.
Matiang’i insists that the process of selecting the coalition’s presidential flag bearer must be transparent, inclusive and credible to earn public trust.
“In my view, it has to be a transparent and inclusive process, as in alliance building…the process is as key as the end result,” said Matiang’i.
The two parties say the selection must inspire confidence among Kenyans, assuring them that whoever emerges will reflect 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.
“We will participate in the process of choosing the presidential candidate, but we must sit down and agree on the guiding conditions. There must be transparency,” said PNU party leader Peter Munya.
“As Jubilee Party has already endorsed Matiang’i, the PNU Party has resolved not to field a candidate and will instead support Matiang’i’s candidature,” said Jubilee Secretary General Moitalel Ole Kenta.
PNU maintains that the decision is a bilateral arrangement between the two parties and will not undermine their working relationship with other like-minded parties within the broader United Opposition coalition.
“Whatever we have decided today does not preclude other like-minded parties, and the arrangement is within the ambit of the United Opposition. We have resolved that we will come up with a framework of engagement between the two parties,” stated PNU Secretary General John Okemwa Anunda.
