Matiang'i blames Ruto for mini polls campaign violence

Jubilee Party Presidential Flag bearer Dr Fred Matiang'i interact with party officials after he was endorsed during a NEC meeting at the Party HQ on October 30, 2025. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Jubilee Party presidential aspirant Dr Fred Matiang'i has accused the government of orchestrating violence at Kabuchai Constituency Saturday morning. 

Matiang'i, who was speaking at Tonga SDA Church in Nyamaiya, Nyamira County, said it was regretful that President William Ruto's government was condoning political violence for short-term gains.

If you don't stop these acts of sponsoring goons to cause chaos and mayhem, you are courting disaster. You have started a problem from which you cannot escape. Now you think that because you are in power, you can terrorise and buy people," Dr Matiang'i warned. 

According to Matiang'i, the government was in panic mode, and it had resorted to violence as a means of causing confusion in the electoral areas where it was sensing imminent defeat. 

The former Cabinet Secretary decried the manner in which campaigners were crossing the country, most particularly in Western Kenya, by people he said were goons armed by the State. 

Matiangi said the signs of defeat to which the government was reacting with violence were an indication of the end of President Ruto's regime. 

"That is the beginning of the end. The beginning of your downfall is here, and if you don't know, you should be aware that that is your end that's drawing near. The government cannot brutalise the people it is supposed to lead," Matiang'i said. 

Matiang'i recounted the Saturday morning incident where Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembea was attacked by armed goods. 

"I worked in the security sector, and you cannot tell me that the county commissioner and the security team are unaware of what happened there. Then they pretend that there was chaos between two groups," he said. 

Dr Matiang'i said there was a similar incident at Malava on Thursday when they were campaigning in Malava Constituency, but the sponsored attackers were overcome by citizens. 

"You have begun your end! Why all this desperation? We can't shoot our way to stability. We must find a way to talk to people and leaders, especially those with whom we disagree," Matiangi said. 

The CS called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to address ongoing unlawful electoral practices in the campaigns for three ward by-elections in Nyamira. 

Dr Matiang'i alleged that some of Kenya Kwanza’s campaigners were spending millions of shillings on their campaigns, with the Chief Whip and South Mugirango MP, Silvanus Osoro, openly promising to use crooked means to ensure their candidates were declared winners, even if they lost at the ballot. 

There will be by-elections on November 27 in the Nyamaiya, Ekerenyo and Nyansiongo wards. 

A few days ago, Mr Osoro told campaign rallies in the three ward by-elections that his party had “other means” to declare their candidates winners, even if they lost at the ballot. 

This claim has rattled the Matiang’i team, who have expressed fears that the system is allegedly trying to abuse its powers to rig the elections and ultimately portray the former CS as weak in his backyard. 

The upcoming elections have narrowed down to a duel to determine the supremacy of Dr Matiang'i and President Ruto in the Gusii region. 

The intense campaigns for the by-elections have forced Dr Matiang’i to return home and lead campaigns for candidates allied with Jubilee in an effort to counter President Ruto's influence in the region. 

Dr Matiang'i beseeched his people to safeguard their dignity by not supporting the UDA candidates. 

He lamented that it is shameful that voter bribery is taking place in broad daylight while the IEBC remains silent. 

"The battle now is between me and the one in power. This is home. I have come home to thank you for the warm welcome and support. I am convinced that if God propels me to power, I will serve our citizens well," he said. 

He noted that some leaders thrive on threatening and abusing others while crisscrossing the area. 

However, he urged residents to remain peaceful during and after the by-elections and to foster coexistence. 

During the Saturday church service in Nyamaiya, the former CS was accompanied by Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni and former MPs Vincent Kemosi (West Mugirango), Ben Momanyi (Borabu) and Richard Tong'i (Nyaribari Cache). 

Kemosi warned proponents of UDA who had indicated that they were ready to rig the elections and took the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to task over failure to take action over such utterances. 

"We will protect our votes by all means. We only need a free and fair election. Any monkey business will be violently resisted by the people," Kemosi said. 

Senator Okong'o reprimanded the President for using security agencies for unfair gains in the by-elections. 

"It's shameful that the President could immerse himself in ward elections. This is not right, and we will continue resisting him," Okong'o said.