Party of National Unity (PNU) party leader Peter Munya has declared former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election, as he stepped up efforts to rally Meru voters behind the former Interior and Education Cabinet Secretary.
Munya, a former Meru governor, said PNU would begin talks with other opposition parties within the next week to negotiate a possible joint presidential candidate, insisting that the process must be conducted with mutual respect and without political entitlement.
“As PNU, we have said Dr Matiang’i is our candidate. His good record is known,” Munya said.
He spoke at Kithaene Primary School in South Imenti, Meru, during the funeral service of teacher Patrick Kiogora, where he was joined by Matiang’i, Meru Senator and Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi and other leaders.
Munya also challenged President William Ruto’s political support in Meru, warning voters against supporting the President simply because Deputy President Kithure Kindiki comes from the larger Meru region.
“Do not vote for him because he is with Kindiki. He (Kindiki) should come to our side so that we can deal with him (Ruto),” Munya said.
He accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to address problems affecting residents, particularly in healthcare and the tea sector.
“SHA is not working and there are no medicines in hospitals,” Munya said, dismissing the government’s claims that the health insurance system was functioning.
“The only place it is working is when they are discussing it on TV!” he said.
Munya also criticised the 0.8 per cent levy imposed on tea, saying it had increased the burden on farmers at a time when they were already facing challenges in the sector.
The former governor said the opposition would engage other political formations to identify a joint presidential candidate, but warned against attempts by any party or individual to dominate the negotiations.
“We are in the opposition and we are going to engage to pick the presidential candidate,” he said.
“There is always room for discussions. What we don't want is pride and other intimidation.”
Matiang’i, who is Jubilee Deputy Leader, also mounted a strong attack on the Ruto administration, accusing it of failing to deliver services to Kenyans and urging it to accept defeat in the 2027 elections.
Addressing Senator Murungi, who is allied to Governor Isaac Mutuma, Matiang’i said the government should give way if it had failed to deliver on its promises.
“If you have been unable to deliver, and you are not the first one to fail, as a government, you should give way and let us take it (government) forward,” he said.
Matiang’i promised to restore what he described as effective public services, including the Linda Mama programme, if elected President.
He criticised the current healthcare system, saying Linda Mama had worked well under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration before being replaced by a dysfunctional system.
Matiang’i also promised to improve security and condemned the use of violence and goons during political activities.
“People are distributing machetes publicly, to go kill Kenyans. For serious managers like myself and Munya, these are shameful things happening in our country,” he said.
“Nobody thought we would have a government such as this.”
The former Cabinet secretary also attacked the government’s management of education, saying the sector had performed better under the administrations of the late President Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said parents were now struggling with increased costs while schools faced inadequate and delayed funding.
“But there is so much confusion now. We will correct that and streamline it,” he said.
Matiang’i said a government under his leadership would produce visible changes, promising that Kenyans would see a significant transformation within two years.
“In two years you will not believe it is the same country,” he said.
He also urged the government to respect the outcome of the 2027 General Election.
On the opposition alliance, Matiang’i said Jubilee and PNU had already entered into an agreement to work together, while expressing confidence that discussions with other parties would be conducted in an orderly manner.
“There is always room for discussions. We support Munya for Governor,” Matiang’i said.
Munya, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions by Senator Murungi that he should abandon his gubernatorial ambitions and seek the presidency.
“You should leave this seat for younger politicians,” Murungi told Munya.
But Munya said his decision to seek the Meru governorship was driven by residents and insisted that the position was important.
“Governor’s seat is not small. A governor is president of the county. I was Governor and I want to do a second and last term,” he said.
Senator Murungi found himself defending the Ruto administration during the funeral, even as he agreed with the opposition leaders on some of the issues affecting the region.
On the contentious 0.8 per cent tea levy, Murungi said he was pushing for its removal and had engaged the Agriculture Ministry and President Ruto over the matter.
“The problem was with the minister,” he said.
He acknowledged concerns over the Social Health Authority but defended the programme, saying the challenges were being addressed.
“There are challenges in SHA but they are being addressed,” Murungi said.
He also sought to separate the problems facing SHA from shortages of medicines in public hospitals, saying the latter fell under the responsibility of county governments.
“SHA should not be blamed for lack of medicines in the hospital,” he said.
“We have county governments who must address the issue.”
Murungi nevertheless said MPs would push for changes to address the concerns surrounding SHA and remove the tea levy.
The political contest in Meru was further highlighted by Abogeta West MCA Dennis ‘DMK’ Kiogora, who said he had shifted from supporting the government to backing the opposition.
“The people here don't know who they will vote for in 2027 but they know who they will not vote for,” Kiogora said.
He urged residents not to re-elect President Ruto regardless of the fact that Kindiki comes from the larger Meru region.
“Importers are not buying for us anymore yet he (Ruto) is not removing the 0.8 per cent levy on tea,” he said.
Kiogora also urged Kindiki to break ranks with Ruto and join the opposition.
“Do not vote for him because he is with Kindiki. He (Kindiki) should come to our side so that we can deal with him (Ruto),” he said.
He also raised concerns over insecurity and the proliferation of illicit liquor, which he blamed for deaths among young people.
“We are burying people left, right and centre,” Kiogora said.
Imenti Development Forum chairman Kairu Magambo also backed Matiang’i’s presidential bid, saying the country was moving in the wrong direction.
“SHA was not working,” Magambo said.
“This country is not headed in the right direction.”
He described Matiang’i as a leader with a record of delivery and said the former Cabinet secretary offered an alternative to the current administration.
The funeral of Kiogora, who had battled illness since 2023, therefore turned into a political platform as leaders traded positions on healthcare, education, tea farming, security and the 2027 presidential contest.
Kiogora had sought treatment at several facilities, including Karen Hospital, Consolata Hospital in Meru and Kenyatta National Hospital, before he died.
