The debate around unpaid Azimio election agents has continued to stir political tension, with senior Jubilee leaders now stepping forward to defend former President Uhuru Kenyatta from blame.
At the centre of the discussion is Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, who has strongly pushed back against claims that Uhuru mishandled campaign resources during the 2022 General Election. Matiang’i insists that the focus on agent payments is misplaced and distracts from more serious national concerns.
While addressing the media during a press briefing on January 6, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary reacted to growing claims that some Azimio agents were never paid for their work.
These allegations have been circulating mainly within the ODM wing of the coalition, with leaders demanding accountability over campaign funds. Matiang’i dismissed the claims as unnecessary noise, arguing that they are being used to damage Uhuru Kenyatta’s image rather than solve real problems.
According to Matiang’i, ODM politicians should redirect their energy towards holding the current government accountable instead of revisiting internal campaign issues. He argued that agent payment matters are being exaggerated for political reasons.
“Instead of focusing on important issues you are trivially focusing on petty things about which agent was paid and not paid,” Matiang’i roared. He claimed that those pushing the issue are not acting in good faith and are instead aligned with the government.
Matiang’i further alleged that the leaders reviving the agent payment debate are on a mission to soil the reputation of the former president.
In his view, Uhuru Kenyatta has become a convenient target despite not being directly responsible for the hiring or payment of agents.
Former Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i. Photo: Capital FMHe questioned why the matter has been elevated to a national issue, insisting that responsibility lies elsewhere. “Concerns about agents who were paid or not paid and so on, they should address who hired them; why should it be a national issue?” Matiang’i claimed.
His remarks were backed by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, who also defended Uhuru Kenyatta. Kioni stated that the former president was never involved in the direct handling or management of election agents.
Instead, he explained that Uhuru’s role was focused on fundraising and mobilising resources for the campaign. According to Kioni, the blame should fall on those tasked with managing and distributing the funds once they were collected.
Kioni went further to point fingers at ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of poor management of campaign resources. In a sharp statement, he suggested that better handling of funds could have changed the outcome of the election.
“If he (the SG) had managed the resources well, Raila would be in State House alive,” Kioni claimed. His words added another layer to the already heated exchange between coalition partners.
The controversy began after Edwin Sifuna raised questions about unpaid agents, accusing National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed of misusing money meant for agent payments. Junet, however, denied the accusations and shifted the blame back to Uhuru Kenyatta and his close allies.
This back and forth has exposed deep cracks within the Azimio coalition, with leaders openly blaming each other over the failed campaign.
Matiang’i and other Jubilee leaders maintain that the focus should move away from internal blame games. They argue that revisiting past campaign disputes only weakens the opposition and distracts from issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
