Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has sparked political speculation after meeting Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and former Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Their meeting comes amid reports of widening cracks within the United Opposition led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a statement shared on his official social media pages, Matiang’i said the meeting was to commiserate with Munya following the death of his grandmother, Mama Mwakairu Rukunga, fondly known as Bamung’o.
“This morning, Trans Nzoia Governor H.E. George Natembeya and I met with former Cabinet Secretary Hon. Peter Munya to commiserate with him following the passing of his beloved grandmother, Mama Mwakairu Rukunga (Bamung’o),” Matiang’i stated.
While the meeting was presented as a condolence visit, political observers have noted that it comes at a time when internal tensions are reportedly emerging within the opposition coalition, with some leaders accusing others of disloyalty and covert political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general election.
Sources close to the Matiang’i and Natembeya camps suggest the two leaders have been in regular contact, with discussions revolving around building a reform-driven coalition that appeals to Kenya’s youth and working class—a move some see as a subtle attempt to reposition ahead of 2027.
Matiang’i, who has maintained a relatively low political profile since leaving government in 2022, has recently re-emerged in the national discourse as he popularises his presidential ambitions.
His public appearances with Natembeya, a vocal critic of President William Ruto, have amplified talk of a potential political partnership.
Governor Natembeya, a rising figure in Western Kenya politics, has also been viewed as a possible running mate for any opposition realignment that could challenge both the Kenya Kwanza administration and the increasingly fragile Kalonzo-Gachagua alliance.
