A Facebook post by Kenya Flash News claims that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race on October 3rd 2026. The post is accompanied by a digital card quote that says :
I am not going to be in the ballot in 2027! I quit with dignity. Kenya is not ready for a president like me. Let my brothers Sifuna and Kalonzo try out their luck. I will help them where necessary. For me, I am out. Fred Matiangi
Background
Dr. Fred Matiang’i served as a cabinet secretary for different state departments in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet, from Cabinet Secretary for ICT in 2013 to Education, and ultimately becoming the CS for Interior and Coordination of National Government. During Kenyatta’s second term, Executive Order No. 1 of 2019 granted Matiang’i oversight over all national development projects. Matiang’i’s political ties with Uhuru Kenyatta remained strong, culminating in the Jubilee Party’s National Executive Council (NEC chaired by Kenyatta, formally appointing Matiang‘i as Deputy Party Leader and endorsing him as Jubilee’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; he also mentioned he had plans to open party offices at every ward. His nationwide consultative engagements have taken him through Kisii and Nyamira, parts of Mount Kenya including Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Narok, Nakuru County, then in Bomet, Mulot, Ololunga, and an extensive Coast region tour covering Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River, Taita-Taveta, and Kwale.
Addressing coalition negotiations, Matiang’i acknowledged that building a unified opposition front is complex and comes with challenges, noting that navigating competing individual ambitions and differing opinions from different parties requires patience and mutual respect. Matiang’i has urged opposition leaders to demonstrate total honesty, put aside personal egos, and stop playing double-dealing (piga kona) politics. When speaking on the opposition, Matiang’i has dismissed claims of infighting, framing their competing presidential bids as a healthy manifestation of democracy rather than coalition fracture.
Matiang’i declared that he is ready to support whichever candidate when the broader coalition eventually settles. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna held key consultative meetings on September 10, 2026, meeting separately with Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang‘i. They agreed that they must work together to liberate the country from what they called the “three things” rule and restore constitutional democracy in the country.
Verification
To verify the authenticity of the claim, Piga Firimbi reviewed Dr. Fred Matiang’i’s recent public statements and movements, and a reverse image search was done on the picture used in the digital card.
Reverse image searches show that the headshot photo of Dr. Fred Matiang’i was extracted directly from a televised studio interview hosted by Sam Gituku on Citizen TV’s The Explainer segment on July 1, 2025. During that 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, opening regional party offices for his presidential bid. On October 6, 2026, he opened a new party office in Kilifi North as he steps up efforts to strengthen his party’s grassroots structures, and on October 5, 2026, Matiang’i secured political backing for his presidential bid from KADU Asili. 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.
Verdict
The claim that former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has announced his exit from the 2027 presidential race is FALSE.
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