Borabu parliamentary hopeful Morara Kebaso has fueled the 2027 presidential race debate by declaring that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i will vie for the presidency. Kebaso emphasized that Kenyans desire a "no-nonsense president" with a strong performance history.
In a statement on July 30, 2026, Kebaso noted that Matiang’i intends to run independently of political elites’ endorsements, underscoring that the final decision rests with the electorate. He said, "His Excellency Dr. Fred Matiang’i will be on the ballot and he will not seek anyone’s permission or approval because the people of Kenya are the ultimate decision makers."
Competence vs. Traditional Politics
Kebaso framed the upcoming elections as a choice between merit-based leadership and conventional political factors such as ethnic alliances, longevity in politics, and mass appeal. He remarked,
- "The people will decide whether they want someone with more tribal numbers, someone who has been in politics for many years, someone who can pull a bigger crowd, or someone who builds one stadium at a budget for 10 stadiums."
- "Liwe liwalo tutapana kwa debe. Let the people decide the future they want."
Building a Grassroots Campaign in Mt. Kenya
Kebaso also highlighted Matiang’i’s recent efforts to consolidate support, revealing that the former CS met over 10,000 opinion leaders across the Mt. Kenya region last week. He described Matiang’i as a "lethal and strategic politician" quietly mobilizing grassroots backing ahead of a formal campaign launch.
According to Kebaso, while large rallies generate excitement, sustainable presidential campaigns require deep community-level networks. He stated, "Crowds are good for hype and entertainment. Anyone who wants to be president must do very serious grassroots mobilisation like Matiang’i and have a track record of excellent performance that the voter can look at."
