A Facebook post by Kenya Flash News, dated October 3rd, 2026, claims that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i has withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race. The post includes a digital card quote from Matiang'i stating he is not going to be in the ballot in 2027 and will help other candidates instead.
Dr. Fred Matiang'i served as a cabinet secretary for different state departments in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's cabinet. He was the CS for ICT from 2013, then Education, and ultimately became the CS for Interior and Coordination of National Government. Matiang'i's political ties with Uhuru Kenyatta remained strong, leading to his appointment as Jubilee Party's Deputy Party Leader and endorsement as the party's official 2027 presidential candidate.
Since his endorsement, Matiang'i has actively rolled out his 2027 campaign strategy by expanding grassroots mobilization, opening new regional party offices, and touring various counties across the country to build momentum. His nationwide consultative engagements have taken him through several counties, including Kisii, Nyamira, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Narok, Nakuru, Bomet, and parts of the Coast region.
Addressing coalition negotiations, Matiang'i acknowledged that building a unified opposition front is complex and comes with challenges. He urged opposition leaders to demonstrate total honesty, put aside personal egos, and stop playing double-dealing politics. Matiang'i dismissed claims of infighting, framing competing presidential bids as a healthy manifestation of democracy.
Verification of the claim involved reviewing Dr. Fred Matiang'i's recent public statements and movements, as well as a reverse image search on the picture used in the digital card. The search revealed that the headshot photo of Dr. Fred Matiang'i was extracted from a televised studio interview hosted by Sam Gituku on Citizen TV's The Explainer segment on July 1, 2025.
During the July 2025 interview, Matiang'i made no mention of quitting the race; instead, he declared his presidential ambitions. Rather than stepping back, Dr. Fred Matiang'i has actively been conducting grassroots tours and opening regional party offices for his presidential bid, including a new office in Kilifi North on October 6, 2026.
Neither the Jubilee Party nor its National Executive Council has issued any statement, press release, or official communication announcing Dr. Fred Matiang'i's exit from the 2027 presidential race. Therefore, the claim that former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has announced his exit from the 2027 presidential race is false.
Key points
- The claim of Fred Matiang'i's exit from the 2027 presidential race is false.
- Matiang'i has continued to actively campaign and has not made any public statements about quitting the race.
- The Jubilee Party has not issued any official communication about Matiang'i's exit from the 2027 presidential race.
