Biography
Fred Matiang'i
Education CS 2015 to 2018. Interior CS 2018 to 2022. Jubilee leader.
Fred Matiang'i is a former Education and Interior Cabinet Secretary under Uhuru Kenyatta. Known for running both ministries with a firm hand, Matiang'i is Jubilee's 2027 presidential candidate. Born in Nyamira County (then part of Kisii District).
- Full name
- Fred Okengo Matiang'i
- Born
- Nyamira County (then part of Kisii District)
- Party
- Jubilee Party (deputy party leader), part of the United Opposition
Education
- Kenyatta UniversityBA
- University of NairobiMA and PhD
Career
- Before 2013Lecturer at Egerton University and the University of Nairobi; regional representative for SUNY's Centre for International Development, which supported Kenya's Parliament
- 2013 to 2015Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and Technology
- 2015 to 2018Cabinet Secretary for Education; led the crackdown on exam cheating from 2016
- 2017 to 2022Cabinet Secretary for Interior (acting from July 2017, confirmed January 2018)
- 30 October 2025Endorsed by Jubilee as its 2027 presidential flagbearer
- 2 May 2026Declared his presidential bid at Gusii Stadium
- September 2026Publicly endorsed by Uhuru Kenyatta as Jubilee's candidate
Where Matiang'i stands
A technocratic, state-delivery style of governing with an order-first approach to security, which his campaign promises repeat. Most placements here are low confidence.
- Role of the state in the economy: Leans state-led
- Institutions and power-sharing: Leans executive-centred
- Political style: Leans establishment
- Civil liberties: Leans order-first
- SCorruption: Says corruption in government has reached unprecedented levels and that public resources are unfairly shared (end-of-year message, 2025).
- DEducation: As Education CS from December 2015 he overhauled the national exams council and cracked down on exam cheating.
- DSecurity: Ran Interior and the police from 2018 to 2022. Now promises a tough crackdown on political violence and 'goon nonsense' if elected (April 2026).
Placed mainly from what Matiang'i did, not what Matiang'i said. See the full record, with every source.
Common questions
Who is Fred Matiang'i?
Fred Matiang'i is a former Education and Interior Cabinet Secretary under Uhuru Kenyatta. Known for running both ministries with a firm hand, Matiang'i is Jubilee's 2027 presidential candidate. Education CS 2015 to 2018. Interior CS 2018 to 2022. Jubilee leader.
Where was Fred Matiang'i born?
Born in Nyamira County (then part of Kisii District).
What did Fred Matiang'i study?
BA at Kenyatta University; MA and PhD at University of Nairobi.
Which party is Fred Matiang'i in?
Jubilee Party (deputy party leader), part of the United Opposition.
What does Fred Matiang'i stand for?
A technocratic, state-delivery style of governing with an order-first approach to security, which his campaign promises repeat. Most placements here are low confidence.
Sources (3)
- Wikipedia: Fred Matiang'i
- Citizen: Jubilee picks Matiang'i to face Ruto
- The Kenya Times: Uhuru names his 2027 candidate (September 2026)
Facts above come from these sources. Where they disagree, we leave the detail out. Spotted an error? Send it in.