Fred Matiangi
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is reportedly gearing up for his first bid for the presidency in 2027.
According to Daily Nation, Matiang’i has hired a Canadian lobbying firm, Dickens & Madson, to lay the groundwork for his campaign as he seeks to unseat President William Ruto.
The firm, headed by former Mossad agent Ari Ben Manashe, is said to have played a pivotal role in the recent victory of Botswana’s newly elected President Duma Boko, who defeated an incumbent after a single term.
Documents filed by the firm at the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act reveal that Matiang’i contracted the company just days after Boko did.
Reports indicate that Matiang’i paid a retainer fee of Ksh 32 million for the firm’s services. These filings include copies of contracts signed by Matiang’i and the company, further solidifying claims that he is preparing for a high-stakes presidential campaign.
Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has weighed in on the development, sharing his controversial perspective on Matiang’i’s political aspirations.
“Some Kenyans will claim there are no opportunities in this country. Look at Dr. Fred Matiang’i. A few years ago, he was a struggling Literature lecturer at Kenyatta University earning about Ksh 40,000 a month. Then Uhuru Kenyatta blessed him, trained him, and showed him the way. Today, he is planning a world-class campaign for the presidency, financed with billions,” he stated on X.
Senior counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi
Ahmednasir has argued that many government officials use their positions to enrich themselves and their families, encouraging Kenyans to help themselves through the same means.
He seemed to be questioning the source of money that the former cabinet secretary could have acquired to afford the millions needed from hire the Canadian firm that is strategizing on his presidential ambition.
By Nairobi