Matiang’i challenges govt to prove opposition’s hand in protests
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has lashed out at the Kenya Kwanza administration over what he termed as reckless attempts to blame the opposition for the recent spate of violence during nationwide protests.
Matiang’i, addressing Kenyans in the diaspora during a town hall meeting in Baltimore on Sunday, July 20, 2025, challenged President William Ruto’s allies to provide evidence linking opposition figures to the chaos witnessed during the anti-government demonstrations or cease spreading unverified claims.
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“Sometimes they say, ‘oh, it’s the opposition sponsoring violence.’ I tell them there is nobody in this world called ‘opposition.’ People have names,” Matiang’i said.
“If you believe it is Fred Matiang’i, say so and provide proof. Otherwise, you’re simply hiding behind vague narratives to dodge responsibility.”
Theatrics instead of solutions
The former CS, who once coordinated internal security matters, accused the government of engaging in political theatre instead of offering solutions to the grievances raised by protesting citizens.
He urged investigative agencies to independently probe the protests and bring clarity, not confusion.
“Where are the investigation reports? Where is the evidence? If the police or intelligence services know who is behind the violence, let them speak with facts, not innuendo. We must stop politicising public suffering,” Matiang’i added.
He also warned that labelling protests as coups without substantiation could erode public trust in institutions and ignite further unrest.
Matiang’i’s remarks come amid sharp claims by government leaders blaming the opposition for instigating violence.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had on a recent occasion claimed that the June 25 demonstrations were part of an attempted power grab.
“It’s clear the coup plotters are not sleeping,” Murkomen stated. “This has nothing to do with protests but an unconstitutional attempt to change the regime. The police were able to foil an attempted coup.”
Despite such assertions, the government has yet to produce concrete evidence linking any opposition leaders to the alleged coup attempt.
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William Muthama
William Muthama is a digital journalist with a focus on entertainment, human interest, and current affairs. Share stories: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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