William Ruto's Ex-CS Machogu Endorses Fred Matiang'i for 2027 bid: "I'll Use My Networks"
- Former Interior Cabinet secretary Fred Matiang'i's presidential bid has received a boost after Ezekiel Machogu's entry into his fold
- Machogu, a former member of President William Ruto's first Cabinet, accused the latter of failing to fulfill his campaign promises to the Gusii community
- He committed his enriched networks to Matiang'i's presidential campaign, discouraging his community from reconsidering Ruto in 2027
Former Education Cabinet secretary Ezekiel Machogu has declared his support for one-time Interior CS Fred Matiang'i.
Source: Twitter
Matiang'i seeks to be president in 2027. Machogu threw his weight behind him, committing his networks to facilitate the campaign.
"I will support Matiang'i. I have networks I will use to campaign for him. Kenya has decided it is one term for President William Ruto," Machogu said.
Why Machogu doesn't want Ruto
Machogu blasted Ruto for sitting on unfulfilled promises he made to the Gusii community as he sought office in 2022.
He called on his community to support Matiang'i, who is one of them, and turn down Ruto should he return seeking support for his reelection.
"The wheelbarrow is torn and has become a scrap. We approached Ruto and told him what the Kisii people want. He was supposed to create a factory. Have you seen it? He said he would build a dam for us. Have you seen it? He promised an industrial park, have you seen it?" Machogu said.
He took pride in the support he accorded his native region when he served in government.
Machogu said the people needed tangible empowerment at the expense of short-term interventions and handouts issued for political expediency, seeming to poke holes in the empowerment programmes undertaken by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki across the country.
The former CS, once again, implored his community to consider Matiang'i and massively rally behind him.
"I brought KSh 1.9 billion for schools. Others said they wanted contracts, and I did. You cannot give Kisiis KSh 64 handouts. That is not empowerment; it is like laughing at us. Ruto promised KSh 500 million for a university in Nyamira. Have you seen it? Isn't that a lie?" Machogu posed.
The CS spoke on Friday, August 8, in Nyamira county at the funeral of the Gusii region's first-ever female MP, Catherine Nyamato.
Machogu is among the Cabinet members who suffered from the purge of the entire Executive sanctioned by Ruto in July last year at the height of the Kenyan youth revolt.
He maintained a low-key profile since then until recently when he emerged to pontificate on the position of the Gusii region in national politics.
Meanwhile, Matiang'i's bid remains in the spotlight as he strategises both locally and outside the country.
Will Uhuru Kenyatta back Matiang'i?
Matiang'i's bid might be dealt a blow should former president Uhuru Kenyatta withdraw his support.
At the beginning of the year, Jubilee Party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni declared that the political outfit had settled on Matiang'i as its presidential flagbearer.
That was the position until recently, when Jubilee deputy chairman David Murathe came up with a contradicting position.
Source: Twitter
Murathe said that Uhuru had hinted at supporting Raila again in 2027.
The condition would be that the ODM leader cut his ties with the current president.
With that, Kioni's pronouncement on the party's support for Matiang'i seemed to be quashed, as the secretary general has yet to contradict Murathe.
Raila has, however, declared that he will work with Ruto until the 2027 vote.
Does Raila want to be president?
The ODM boss has lately not been committed to the quest for the presidency, despite offers for support from various quarters.
Months back, former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua offered to help Raila become president.
Gachagua observed that the former prime minister had a high chance owing to the massive support he enjoys across the country, and that a little boost from Mt Kenya would see him in the state house.
Raila has given indications of supporting Ruto for reelection, despite declaring that their pact would only last until 2027.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
