Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has issued a stark warning that his party will quit the united opposition alliance if its deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i is not selected as the coalition’s presidential flagbearer.
In an interview on Monday, Kioni, who has been dogged by allegations of being a State House mole planted in the opposition, stated that if the united opposition led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua fails to pick Matiang’i as the presidential candidate, the former ruling party will go it alone or join President William Ruto.
“If you don’t make Matiang’i the opposition flag bearer, we will go it alone to the ballot,” Kioni said.
Kioni also dismissed the growing influence of Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party(DCP) in Mount Kenya, saying nobody will stop Jubilee Party from fielding candidates in electoral posts including the Presidency.
“Jubilee Party itakuwa na wabunge wengi Mt Kenya kuliko DCP. Tutasimama kidete na Presidential Candidate wetu Fred Matiang’i,” Kioni declared.
The remarks have deepened concerns about the fragility of the opposition coalition, which has been struggling to present a united front against President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kioni’s position comes amid a broader push by Jubilee to position Matiang’i as a viable presidential candidate, a move that has already created friction with other opposition principals. Jubilee Party has formally endorsed Matiang’i as its presidential aspirant following a National Executive Committee meeting chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, a decision that has been met with resistance from the DCP camp.
However, those close to the former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament suggest he is being used by state operatives to create a wedge within the united opposition, since a united opposition poses a significant threat to President William Ruto’s re-election prospects in 2027.
One Jubilee Party official, who requested anonymity, questioned Kioni’s loyalty, while another claimed he has been receiving inducements from State House to divide the opposition.
The internal opposition tensions have escalated over the choice of a flagbearer, with Gachagua previously accusing Kioni of being planted by the National Intelligence Service(NIS) to sow discord among opposition leaders.
Meanwhile, Kioni has rejected any boardroom deal to select the coalition’s candidate, insisting that the people must have the final say. As the rivalry between DCP and Jubilee intensifies, the coalition’s ability to maintain cohesion ahead of the 2027 election remains uncertain.
Here is a video of Kioni’s speech
https://twitter.com/citynews254/status/2084571832275833164/video/1
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