Matiang’i: Opposition leaders must speak the truth and stop playing both sides

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has urged opposition leaders to be truthful and maintain consistency in their calls for unity, warning against saying one thing publicly while acting differently elsewhere. During the burial of Mwalimu Jackson Karua in Kirinyaga on October 3, 2026, Matiang’i emphasized the importance of honesty among opposition leaders as they seek to select a joint presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.

"We are a people who speak the truth at all times. We must come together, discuss and agree on a single candidate, because that is what Kenyans want," he said. Matiang’i cautioned against "picking and choosing" politics, where leaders appear united in public but pursue different positions in private. "We sometimes play politics of deception here, we talk well here, but do something else elsewhere," he warned.

He called on leaders to heed the desires of Kenyans who seek them to work together and agree on a single candidate. Matiang’i reiterated his commitment to opposition unity, even if he was not selected to lead a broader coalition. "As Kenyan citizens and leaders, especially those of us in the opposition, our duty is to stand together, come what may.

Even if we do not get that position, what matters is that we stand together and remove this leadership," he said. During his remarks, Matiang’i also addressed visitors from Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi, urging Kenya to maintain good relations with its neighbors. He recalled his tenure as Interior minister under Uhuru Kenyatta, noting that Kenya had previously resisted pressure to arrest opposition leaders from neighboring countries who sought medical treatment in the country.

Matiang’i emphasized that Kenyans should not support the mistreatment of opposition figures from neighboring nations. He also reflected on the life of the late Mwalimu Jackson Karua, quoting him, "Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your character," and praised Martha Karua for her mentorship, guidance, and support to opposition leaders.

Matiang’i warned that Kenyans would not easily forgive leaders who publicly call for unity but engage in different political arrangements elsewhere.