[Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i with President Uhuru Kenyatta. He played a critical role in Uhuru’s good performance in Nyanza. Photo/Nation]
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i played a pivotal role in the reelection of President Uhuru Kenyatta especially at his Gusii backyard.
Before elections, Matiang’i made several trips to the vote rich region where he reverted to professional campaigns that saw Uhuru’s party performing well.
Along with lawyer Ken Ogeto, Matiang’i supervised a Jubilee team that worked tirelessly to venture in a region perceived to be an opposition stronghold.
“Delivering in Kisii was not easy and we had to revert to house to house campaigns,” recalls youth leader Fredrick Mosiori.
He adds: “Matiang’i gave us all the support we needed and was always on the ground. We had our own targets which we finally managed as a team.”
In Nyamira, Uhuru pulled a major surprise by scoring 52 percent while opposition leader Raila Odinga managed a 46 percent.
In 2013, Odinga scored a whopping 70 percent from the region other than managing to carry home all parliamentary seats.