Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly thrown his weight behind Dr Fred Matiang’i, the former Cabinet Secretary for Interior, applauding him for exemplary work ethics.
Speaking during a Jubilee Party grassroots leaders meeting held in Murang’a on Friday, 7 November 2025, Uhuru expressed admiration for Fred Matiang’i, calling his work ethic unmatched.
“He gets things done. I am not supporting Matiangi because he is a Kisii,” Uhuru declared.
By explicitly distancing himself from regional or clan loyalty, the former president of Kenya is making a deliberate statement that true leadership ought to be about results, rather than roots.
“I don’t even know his home and I have never stepped there. All I know is that he is a workaholic and a performer.” Uhuru asserted.
Uhuru Kenyatta’s message is a clear attack on the prevalent status quo in Kenya, especially politicians whose campaigns are based on mere promises, yet deliver little once in power.
As a seasoned political novice, Uhuru’s timely endorsement openly acknowledges Matiang’i’s past political inexperience, while also highlighting vulnerability in a country where political alliances, and public deceit often matter more than governance.
“I know he has a lot to learn in politics and you will teach him, but these are the kind of people we want across the board, right from MCAs to Parliament to Senate. We want people who are prepared to work, not those who waste our time with endless stories, lies and unkept promises,” he added.
For Uhuru, positioning Matiang’i as a technocrat in training, more than mere political rhetoric, is his own way of asking Kenyans to choose real potential, not mere patronage and polish.
Fred Matiang’i Track Record
For most Kenyans, Matiang’i is regarded as one of the best-performing Cabinet Secretaries during Uhuru’s second term, when he was given oversight over multiple dockets, including education and interior security.
Apart from being applauded for his aggressive crackdown on exam cheating and curriculum changes, those who have worked with him in the past acknowledge that he is feared and respected in equal measure for being strict and demanding accountability.
