Matiang’i demands action from govt on River Yala cases
By William Muthama, October 29, 2025Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has called on the government to take urgent and decisive action regarding the controversial River Yala killings, stressing that security lapses and unresolved cases cannot be ignored.
Speaking in an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Matiangi said that regardless of a person’s status or position in society, investigations must be pursued to their logical conclusion.
“Security situations happen everywhere in the world, even in the United States or the UK. Murders and criminal acts will occur. What matters is where the line is drawn, and that is where investigations are conducted properly,” Matiangi said.
He emphasised that the responsibility of the state is to ensure thorough, impartial inquiries.
Matiang’i recalled his tenure at the Ministry of Interior, noting that he consistently pushed for investigations into unresolved criminal cases, including extrajudicial killings and disappearances.
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“Every time we got directions from investigations, we went there, regardless of the person involved. That is how accountability works,” he said.
He cited cases involving returnees from Al-Shabaab training in parts of Kenya and highlighted incidents where Parliament had provided key information that enabled investigations.
Matiang’i insisted that no one, including high-ranking officials, should be shielded from scrutiny. “If the investigations point to a minister or even someone at the top, for heaven’s sake, let us go there and face the law,” he stated.
The former CS stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to conclude investigations and ensure justice for affected families. He warned that delays or negligence could undermine public trust in security institutions and governance.
He urged authorities to act promptly, noting that transparency and diligence in handling criminal investigations are essential to prevent further tragedies. “It is the duty of the government to follow the direction of investigations to the end. Justice delayed is justice denied,” Matiangi added.
The killings, which raised widespread concern during his tenure as CS for Interior, involved several bodies discovered in the River Yala between 2021 and 2022, according to the human rights group International Justice Mission.