RUTO'S RE-ELECTION HINGED ON MATIANG'I AND RAILA FACTORS , MATIANG'I TERMED AS STATE PROJECT

With less than two years to the Presidential ballot, ODM leader Raila Odinga and former CS Fred Matiang'i have been considered as critical variables in President Ruto's 2027 re-election equation - Raila termed as the core determinant while Matiang'i framed as a state project aimed at splitting the opposition votes.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, September 24, Kigumo Mp Joseph Kamau Munyoro warned that President William Ruto’s path to re-election in 2027 could collapse without the backing of ODM leader Raila Odinga, even.

“The person who should be very worried is President Ruto because if Raila bolts, Ruto will probably be number four or five in the presidential election,” Munyoro said .

He described Ruto’s reliance on Raila as a “basket of hope,” cautioning that the political landscape would shift dramatically if Raila were to withdraw his backing.

At the same time, Munyoro , who is also a staunch ally of former DP Rigathi Gachagua casted doubts on Matiang’i’s intentions within the opposition, claiming he was not genuinely committed to the cause but rather a government-sponsored project.

“Matiang'i doesn't look like he's in the opposition. He looks like he's a project who's coming to break the opposition. That suspicion has been there and we will confirm it as we go along,” he added.

Munyoro’s doubts were fueled by the Tuesday, 23, closed-door meeting within the Jubilee faction of the opposition, which he appeared to view as a stumbling block to the unity of the broader opposition coalition, of which Jubilee is a part.

However, Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu quickly dismissed Munyoro’s claims as unfounded, insisting there was no evidence to suggest Matiang’i was acting as a state operative.

Munyoro concluded that the 2027 race will be defined by two questions: whether Raila continues to prop up Ruto’s presidency, and whether Matiang’i succeeds in shaking off the “project” label that threatens his credibility within the opposition.

“What happens if Raila withdraws support? That is the question everyone should be asking now,” Munyoro said.

Munyoro's take further signifies quakes within the opposition as they seemingly struggle to identify a central flag bearer - this follows a backdrop of events quoting the Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the man of the moment- with 15 years of shelving his presidential ambitions in favour of Raila, on the other hand Matiang'i portends as the GenZ favourite with backing from former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua posing as a King Maker, who also can be King.

Jubilee announced an NDC ( National Delegates Conference) scheduled on 26 September - an event which is expected to determine Matiang'i fate onwards.