- “Matiang’i’s language has not yet resonated with Kenyans, he has not yet spoken to mama mboga, and once they realize he is not speaking their language, they will abandon him,” Dr. Ndonye concluded.
Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s leadership qualities earned him a reputation as a no-nonsense technocrat.
His ability to implement policy, enforce order, and steer public institutions efficiently won him admiration across Kenya.
But as talk grows about his potential entry into presidential elective position, come 2027 an important question looms: is Matiang’i ready for the political spotlight, or his managerial style will hold him back?
Speaking during a recent discussion on The Political Oracle, a segment of the TalkChat Podcast, political analyst Dr. Michael Ndonye describes Matiang’i as “not so much of a politician, but a manager per excellence,” posing the question, does Kenya need a manager politician?
According to Dr Ndonye, for Fred Matiangi to be president he needs to be both a manager and a politician.
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“Matiang’i needs to be both a manager and a politician if he wants to end up as president,” Dr Ndonye said.
Dr. Ndonye emphasizes that while leadership skills are essential, they are not the sole ticket to the state house but political stance is. “A political stance is the highway to State House, but leadership ability is not,” he remarked.
Dr. Michael Ndonye has criticized Fred Matiang’i for framing the country’s problems as issues of poor management urging him to ask Kenyans directly what the problem is.
“Matiang’i must move and talk to the people. He needs to ask them directly what your problem is.”
Citing President William Ruto’s campaign strategy in 2022 as a powerful example, Dr. Michael Ndonye urged Fred Matiang’i to shift his focus from macro-level policy talk to micro-level political engagement.
He noted that Ruto’s success was rooted in his ability to connect with everyday Kenyans through the hustler narrative, which targeted the real, felt needs of people at the grassroots.
“Matiang’i needs to stop focusing on the macro level and begin down here, Kenyans cannot feel the decisions made at the macro level, their concern is how you will solve the problems down here at the micro level,” he said.
While acknowledging the good intention behind Matiang’i’s message of bringing Kenyans together, Dr. Ndonye criticizes Matiang’i’s interpretation of having Gachagua, Kalonzo, and other opposition leaders with him as a sign of bringing Kenyans together.
“Matiang’i seems to think that bringing Kenyans together means having Gachagua, Kalonzo, and other opposition leaders with him,that’s still macro-level policy talk. Real unity is built among the people, not just among political dynasties,” Dr. Ndonye said.
The political analyst, however, responded positively and agreed “one hundred percent” with Matiang’i’s vision of addressing Kenya’s unemployment crisis by enhancing investment and promoting the growth of the private sector.
Dr Michael Ndonye has also pointed out that Matiang’i’s political language has yet to resonate with the common mwananchi and that if Kenyans begin to sense that Matiang’i is not genuinely speaking to their issues, they will quickly abandon him.
“Matiang’i’s language has not yet resonated with Kenyans, he has not yet spoken to mama mboga, and once they realize he is not speaking their language, they will abandon him,” Dr. Ndonye concluded.
