Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has called off his much-anticipated three-day tour of Mt Kenya, just a day before it was set to begin.
The visit, which was scheduled to take him to Meru and Embu counties from Friday through Sunday, has been postponed indefinitely.
Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya, who was set to host Matiang’i, confirmed the cancellation during a press briefing held on Wednesday.
Munya said the decision was reached after receiving credible information that hired goons were planning to disrupt the rallies. According to him, the intention behind the chaos was to discredit Matiang’i and paint the party in a bad light.
“We have deep sources in the system. There’s a clear plot to send goons to our meetings to cause violence, then turn around and blame our people for it. It’s a deliberate plan to tarnish Matiang’i’s name and damage the image of PNU.” said Munya
Aside from security concerns, Munya explained that the party also chose to postpone the tour as a sign of respect to the families of those who died in recent anti-government protests.
“We believe it’s important to pause and mourn with fellow Kenyans who have lost loved ones. This is not the right time for politics. We will hold the rallies later, when the moment feels right,” he added.
Local leaders in Meru had already made arrangements for Matiang’i’s visit, which many saw as the launchpad for his 2027 presidential campaign. The Kenya Social Congress in Meru had also pledged their support, calling him a strong and visionary leader.
“We were looking forward to Matiang’i’s visit so he could share his ideas and plans with the people. We had mobilized our members and were ready to receive him,” a party member said before news of the cancellation broke.
Munya pointed fingers at the government, accusing it of using dirty tricks, including funding chaos at opposition events while pretending to maintain law and order.
“These goons seen looting and attacking peaceful citizens are being used to silence the opposition. The government wants to make it look like it’s the protestors who are violent, but Kenyans are not fools, they can see what’s going on,” Munya said.
Matiang’i, who has been quiet for months, has recently resurfaced on the political scene with clear intentions to seek the presidency in 2027. While the Mt Kenya tour is now on hold, his allies insist that the journey is far from over.
“The rally may be postponed, but the movement continues,” Munya added
By Newshub