Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hinted that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i may have once considered a return to frontline politics, revealing that the two held a series of private meetings soon after Matiang’i’s trip to the United States.
Speaking during a Sunday night interview on KTN News, Gachagua recounted how Matiang’i reached out to him after coming back to Kenya, expressing interest in working with his political side and even floating the idea of a presidential run.
“Fred Matiang’i is a good man. When he returned from the US, we met several times. He expressed his wish to join us and shared his ambition to serve as president if we supported him, and we received him warmly," Gachagua said.
The revelation paints a different picture of Matiang’i, who has largely avoided political debates since the 2022 elections.
Once seen as one of the most powerful figures in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, Matiang’i quietly withdrew from public life after leaving office, limiting himself to private engagements and international appearances.
Gachagua’s disclosure now fuels speculation that conversations about the next political lineup may already be underway behind closed doors, with former government insiders exploring fresh paths ahead of the 2027 general election.
During the interview, Gachagua also weighed in on Kenya’s shifting political climate, saying that growing discontent among citizens is reshaping the country’s political direction.
“It’s not about politicians chasing power. It’s Kenyans themselves who are demanding change. Our role is simply to offer direction and leadership to that movement," he said.