Matiang’i recalls banning disco matanga and driving girls to school
By Valerian Khakayi, August 5, 2025Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has reflected on his time in government, recalling bold interventions aimed at curbing teenage pregnancies and keeping girls in school, including the ban on the infamous disco matanga.
Speaking during a public engagement with Kenyans in Minneapolis on Monday, August 4, 2025, Matiang’i said the night-long funeral dances, mostly attended by school-going children, were contributing to the rising cases of teenage pregnancies, particularly in rural areas.
“Where we had challenges of teenage pregnancy, I banned disco Matanga, whose funeral night dance affected our children,” Matiang’i recalled.
Collaborated efforts
The 2027 presidential hopeful credited his success in implementing these measures to a collaborative effort with the provincial administration.
He singled out current Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who at the time served as County Commissioner in Narok and later as Regional Commissioner for the Rift Valley.
Additionally, the former CS recalled how they were putting pressure on chiefs and assistant chiefs, warning them that if any girl was found out of school in their jurisdiction, they would be held accountable.
“We worked hard through the provisional administration, I remember. George Natembeya, the current governor for Trans Nzoia, was first the county commissioner in Narok and then later the regional commissioner in Rift Valley,” he said.
“We were terrorising chiefs and assistant chiefs, telling them if there was a girl going to be found in your jurisdiction who has not gone to school, you will pay for it.”
Matiang’i revealed that they went beyond policy and enforcement, even personally ensuring that girls were taken to school.
“We drove these kids to school,” he added.
Matiang’i’s tough stance on accountability among local administrators and his commitment to education reform remain a key part of his legacy in public service.
Matiang’i on capitation
Matiang’i further questioned why, instead of progressing, the Kenya Kwanza regime seemed to be moving backwards in the education sector, noting that capitation had been reduced, yet the funds were not reaching schools, with constant excuses being given every day.
“Know why it is that when we are supposed to be going forward, we want to go backwards? we reduce the capitation, and it is not even going to school, and every day is excuses upon excuses,” he stated.