Former Interior Cabinet Secretary and 2027 presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i has called off his planned three-day rallies in Meru and Embu counties, set to take place from Thursday through Saturday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Peter Munya, leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU) and Matiang’i’s host for the events, expressed deep concern over a purported plot to infiltrate the rallies with criminal elements. Munya claimed intelligence indicates that unknown individuals are planning to deploy goons into the gatherings to incite chaos and then blame supporters, thereby tarnishing both the party and Matiang’i’s reputation.
“We have credible intelligence suggesting that there’s a scheme to sabotage our meetings by sending goons to cause destruction. They plan to pin the violence on our supporters to discredit Matiang’i and our party,” Munya stated.
He further explained that the decision to postpone the rallies was made out of respect for recent national mourning. “We have decided to delay these gatherings out of reverence for the Kenyans who lost their lives during recent protests. We believe it’s best to hold the rallies when the time is right,” Munya added.
Local leaders in Meru had already prepared for Matiang’i’s visit, eager to welcome him as he seeks to rally support for his 2027 presidential bid. The Meru branch of the Kenya Social Congress had expressed enthusiasm for his upcoming visit, which was also scheduled to include a stop in Narok County.
Before the postponement, a KSC official in Meru emphasized the community’s readiness to receive Matiang’i and called on malicious actors to refrain from disrupting the campaign activities. “We are ready to host our leader, Fred Matiang’i, so he can share his vision and gain our support. We warn those paying goons to stay away from our rallies,” they said.
The leaders have also blamed the government for allegedly deploying the goons responsible for unrest in various parts of the country. “It’s clear that the government is behind the chaos, trying to pin the blame on opposition supporters. The citizens know the truth,” Munya asserted.
This cancellation follows recent incidents where opposition figures, including Governor Natembeya, Rigathi Gachagua, and Matiang’i himself, were attacked and stoned during a rally in Bungoma County. Their convoy was hijacked en route to Kitale through Chwele, and they had to quickly retreat to safety amid the violence.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of 2027, the move to postpone the rallies underscores the growing tensions and security concerns surrounding campaign activities in the region.
