Fred Matiang’i Gears Up for 2027 State House Bid
Fred Matiang’i, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary, is gearing up for a run for the presidency in 2027.
Once regarded as the “super CS” during retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, Matiang’i has enlisted a renowned international firm to boost his chances of becoming Kenya’s sixth President.
The Canada-based company Dickens and Madson will receive Sh32.5 million to lobby influential governments, including the US, UK, Japan, Kenya, and other agreed nations, as well as international organizations, on Matiang’i’s behalf.
The agreement, signed on 13 July 2024 and reviewed by The Africa Report, states that the firm will also aid in crafting and implementing policies to support Matiang’i’s political objectives and help him achieve the presidency.
Maintaining a low-profile
Since leaving office in 2022, Dr. Matiang’i has kept a low profile but aims to leverage his notable achievements in the ICT and Education ministries.
He successfully led the transition from analog to digital TV broadcasting in the ICT ministry and implemented significant measures to curb exam cheating between 2015 and 2018 in the Education Ministry.
Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions may resonate with young protesters who recently showed support for him on social media during anti-government demonstrations.
Locally, Matiang’i must strategize to contend with the strong alliance between President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who joined forces during the contentious 2022 presidential election, which saw Azimio reject the results.
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While Matiang’i seeks international endorsement through the Montreal-based firm, its history could either enhance or hinder his campaign.
Dickens and Madson have previously been involved in controversies. In 2021, they had to terminate a $2 million contract with Myanmar’s junta, aimed at defending the February 1 military coup, after failing to get approval from US and Canadian authorities.
$6 million contract
In 2019, the firm signed a $6 million agreement to secure government funds and diplomatic recognition for Sudanese General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, whose forces were implicated in massacring protesters in Khartoum. According to The Globe and Mail, this deal included efforts to obtain funding and equipment for the Sudanese military.
The lobbying efforts also aimed to support the development and execution of policies aligned with Hemedti’s political goals.
Currently leading the Rapid Support Forces, an independent military group engaged in Sudan’s ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces, Hemedti has been accused by Human Rights Watch of committing serious crimes against civilians in Darfur and other regions of Sudan.
Fred Matiang’i Gears Up for 2027 State House Bid
