Osoro Dismisses Matiang’i’s Presidential Bid, Urges Him to ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee’

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro has dismissed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions, arguing that the former minister lacks the political support needed to mount a successful bid for the country’s top seat.

Speaking during a press conference with journalists on Tuesday, Osoro told Matiang’i to “wake up and smell the coffee,” claiming that he does not have sufficient backing from the Gusii region to propel him to the presidency in the 2027 General Election. Osoro maintained that the region should not be misled into pursuing what he described as an unrealistic political path.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker said that if Matiang’i was interested in serving in government after the 2027 elections, he would be better placed seeking the deputy president’s position. Osoro claimed he could even negotiate with President William Ruto on Matiang’i’s behalf for the role, insisting that such an arrangement would be more achievable than a presidential bid.

Osoro also used the briefing to highlight development projects in South Mugirango Constituency, saying his close working relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration had enabled him to secure major road infrastructure projects for residents. He cited the road network in the constituency as evidence of the benefits of cooperating with the national government.

The MP further criticised opposition lawmakers who have aligned themselves with Matiang’i, claiming they risk missing out on key government-funded development projects because they have chosen not to work closely with the national administration. He argued that collaboration between elected leaders and the government is essential for accelerating development at the grassroots.

Matiang’i, who has recently intensified his political engagements and held meetings with opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 elections, had not publicly responded to Osoro’s remarks by the time of publication.