Matiang’i criticises Kindiki-led empowerment programme
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has launched a scathing attack on the government’s current approach to empowerment programs, particularly those spearheaded by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Speaking during a public engagement with Kenyans in Minneapolis on Monday, August 4, 2025, Matiang’i questioned the logic behind what he described as extravagant and superficial empowerment tours that offer little tangible benefit to ordinary Kenyans.
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Additionally, the presidential hopeful added that the leaders were dramatising the empowerment initiative by flying around in helicopters every week.
“People are flying around the country in helicopters every Friday in the name of empowerment, nine helicopters this way, nine helicopters that way, dramatising everything. Then they land in a village and give poor people Ksh64, which is not even one dollar,” he said.
The former CS further urged political leaders to be serious, saying the country was better than that.
“Let us be serious; our country is better than that,” he urged.
“I promise that working together, all of us will fix these challenges and bring about integrity to the management of public affairs and create trust.”
Kindiki on empowerment programme
This comes after Kindiki defended his empowerment initiative, clarifying that the programme is aimed at supporting women’s businesses through structured groups and not for casual or personal spending.
Speaking during the economic empowerment forum in Baringo County on Sunday, August 3, 2025, Kindiki emphasised that the funds are part of a structured effort to empower women economically and are disbursed through registered groups to ensure accountability and impact.
Additionally, the second in command added that the initiative is rooted in economic empowerment rather than political tokenism.
“Wamama wamefanya alot of work, Kuna watu wanaongea mambo ya uwongo huko nje sisi hii pesa tunasaidia vikundi sio pesa ya kugawanya watu waende kununua kitenge, akina mama waende kununua vitenge hii ni pesa ya biashara, ni mambo ya kusaidia kina mama kwa biashara na wanasaidiwa kupitia vikundi,” Kindiki clarified.
“Tutakuja kwa mambo ya vijana baadaye na mambo ya wazee kwa sababu pia wao wako na vikundi vyao because we want everybody to be empowered; sio pesa ya kugawanya na kukula mikate na kunywa soda, hii niya kujenga jamii, tumeanza na kina mama kwa sababu wanajua kuchunga pesa.”
