CS Matiang'i coronated as Abagusii Community's spokesman

The installation of Interior CS  Fred Matiang'i as the Abagusii community spokesperson has triggered speculation he could venture into politics ahead of the 2022 General Election.

The position would elevate Matiang'i to be the community's political torchbearer, 13 years after the Abagusii kingpin, Simon Nyachae, retired from active politics.

This even as it emerged that an elaborate ceremony is being planned by elders in two months time to coronate the CS as an elder, making him the community's de facto kingpin.

This is likely to plunge Matiang'i into the larger President Uhuru Kenyatta succession matrix ahead of next year's polls.

Some analysts have said Matiang'i could be a formidable successor to President Kenyatta. He has the President's ears and serves as the chairman of the influential National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee.

The Cabinet sub-committee is in charge of the implementation and monitoring of all development projects by the national government.

The decision by the elders to anoint Matiang'i as the community's spokesman has already jolted a section of Abagusii leaders who have dismissed the coronation.

Matiangi's critics have faulted his crowning on Sunday, saying it was done without properly consulting all elected leaders from the two counties of Nyamira and Kisii.

However, the Abagusii Elders Council chairman Araka Matundura told the Star the process of finally installing Matiang'i both as an elder and spokesman is not yet complete.

“This [Sunday's event] was just a consultative session where we engaged the CS and informed him of our intention to install him as elder. We plan to initiate him as one of our elders in two months' time,” Matundura said.

Matundura dismissed claims that the coronation was a political inauguration, saying it was a symbol of authority to enable the CS to represent the community's interests at the national level.

“We have politicians but we want an elder who speaks on behalf of the community,” Matundura said, justifying the significance of Matiang'i's coronation as an elder.