Kenya Insights

Tag: Dr Fred Matiangi

  • Maraga or Matiang’i? Gusii Leaders Split As Both Aim For 2027 Presidency

    Maraga or Matiang’i? Gusii Leaders Split As Both Aim For 2027 Presidency

    Sharp divisions have emerged among elected leaders and professionals from the Gusii region on who between former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i and retired chief justice David Kenani Maraga the community should support for President in 2027.

    A group of elected leaders including Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo, Nakuru Town West MP Samwel Arama – and professionals led by Nairobi-based advocate Danstan Omari are rooting for Matiangi to remain the community’s torchbearer.

    Whereas Matiang’i has hinted to close aides about his plans to seek the top seat, Maraga has not shown any signs of venturing into politics, though his name is being mentioned in the region. But another group led by former Borabu MP Ben Momanyi and advocate Denis Matara Abincha oppose any Matiang’i’s candidacy and are instead fronting Maraga.

    The two argued that Maraga was more popular across the country and could get more votes than Matiang’i, whom they had branded as a dictator. Speaking to People Daily yesterday, Abincha said would be pointless to replace President William Ruto, whom he accused of dictatorship, with Matiang’i, who he claimed has similar attributes.

    He said Ruto and Matiangi have two distinct things in common they don’t respect the Constitution and they defied court orders. “When the court orders were issued that Miguna Miguna should not be extradited from [Kenya], Matiangi openly defied them with impunity and ordered that he be sent back to Canada,” Abincha said.

    “This is the same man who unfortunately wants to be the next President of Kenya.” He added: “The only person who can save this country from the serious economic and political crises it is facing is none other than Maraga.

    He has already demonstrated to Kenyans that he is an honest and good leader. “Therefore, as the Kisii community, we are fronting Maraga for the position but not Matiangi.” ‘Dividing community’ Momanyi also dismissed a Matiangi candidacy, arguing that he was not fit for the position because he could not accommodate the views of other people.

    He claimed that when Matiangi was a minister, he failed to unite members of the community and wondered how he could help Kenya if he was elected President. “During his tenure as CS, he took much of his time dividing members of the community and their leaders and so I don’t see him as suitable material for the presidency. He is not even the community’s de facto leader,” Momanyi added.

    Meanwhile, Onyonka has maintained that the community had already settled on Matiang’i as their preferred choice in 2027. “Let the whole nation know that this time around, the Kisii community could front a presidential candidate who is none other than Matiangi,” he stated.

  • State Unveils New Force To Crackdown On Cyberbullies

    State Unveils New Force To Crackdown On Cyberbullies

    A crackdown against cybercrime and social media bullies has inched closer to reality with the unveiling of the Secretariat to operationalise the relevant law.

    The National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4) will be tasked with consolidating action on the detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes.

    Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i said the Secretariat will prioritize the misuse of social media which he described as a major threat to national security and integration.

    The CS who officiated the launch of the Secretariat at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development said there will be a sustained crackdown against culprits especially in the run-up to the General Election.

    “As we approach the general elections, our challenge number one is the misuse and abuse of social media,” he said, adding that digital communication and transactions were a growing reality of the public and private sectors and urged all arms of the government to invest commensurately in relevant training.

    He noted that the adoption of technology had also seen steady growth in cybercrime and other digital-driven crimes and challenged the players in law and order sectors including the Judiciary to incorporate digital training within its ranks.

    “Nations around the world are pumping resources into research on cybersecurity…Our conflicts are going to move to the Judiciary, and the judges must be capacitated enough to help us resolve them.”

    ICT CS Joe Mucheru said the new law was necessary to support the digital economy and called for its stringent application.

    “People have been giving public holidays on social media, killing others online, and even publishing content from different countries to mislead citizens. This habit must stop.”

    Interior Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho who chairs the NC4 said the unveiling of the Secretariat will deter rampant abuse and character assassinations on social media.

    “The operationalisation of this Secretariat and the law will provide us as a country with a very good foundation to get recourse from those who are hiding behind the keyboard of their phones to commit crime,” he said.

    The NC4 was established under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018 to enable timely prohibition, detection, investigation, prosecution and response to computer misuse and cybercrime.

    The Act provides a framework to fight computer misuse and cybercrime by facilitating investigation procedures for local and international cooperation.

    It establishes jurisdiction and prescribes penalties for crimes such as mobile money fraud, developing websites to steal people’s information and child pornography among others.

    The Committee comprises representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of the Interior, as well as representatives from the office of the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions, Communications Authority of Kenya and the Central Bank among other agencies.

  • Media Houses Inciting Kenyans To Be Shutdown Ahead Of Elections, Govt Warns

    Media Houses Inciting Kenyans To Be Shutdown Ahead Of Elections, Govt Warns

    The Government will not hesitate to shut down community radios and TV stations propagating ethnicity and political violence, Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i has said.

    Speaking in Ol Kalou town when he presided over the launch of Trinity FM and TV, Dr. Matiang’i regretted that a number of community radio stations had been used to propagate hatred urging them to preach peace and reconciliation ahead of the next general elections.

    “We will shut you down in the best interest of this country. It is our duty to uphold peace and we will safeguard the stability of this country jealously without taking sides,” said the CS, while urging politicians to freely campaign without having to ask for permission from the government.

    While condemning an incident in which DP William Ruto’s motorcade was stormed in Busia Saturday, Matiang’i said already five people had been arrested in connection with the chaos, urging the youths to desist from being used to propagate political intolerance.

    “No one is allowed to disrupt meetings, we will arrest you and take you to court. Kenyans are now clever they can make a choice on their own,” he said, urging Kenyans to debate freely and receive all leaders equally as they sell their policies.

    On Huduma Namba, the CS said that he will defend the initiative even to the Supreme Court, just as he defended digital migration that has now opened room for more than 60 community stations mainly based in the rural areas.

    His ICT and Youth Affairs counterpart Joe Mucheru, who also graced the occasion at Trinity Methodist Church, noted the milestones the digital migration had made, to allow broadcasting in remote places such as Ol Kalou.

    “The church as the new entrant in broadcasting should take the mantle you separate the truth from fake news, while plugging into the technological advancements for economic growth,” added Mucheru.

    Governor Francis Kimemia took the opportunity to woo investors into the county noting that the county stood a chance for growth and development.

    Also present at the event were Communication Authority of Kenya Director General Ezra Chiloba, Water and Sanitation CS Sicily Kariuki and Sports CAS Zach Kinuthia among others.

    Trinity FM is the first community radio and TV within Nyandarua County. Its Proprietor Bishop Josam Kariuki called in investors to originate projects and ideas for the growth of the county.

  • Blow To Ruto As Matiang’i Makes Radical Changes At Kenya Power

    Blow To Ruto As Matiang’i Makes Radical Changes At Kenya Power

    The cartels are said to have artificially created power shortages then introduced the so-called Independent Power Producers (IPP) which took over the production of power using diesel generators at a much higher cost

     Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) face monumental operational losses blamed on graft cartels from within the company and to an extent, outsiders. Tough-talking interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi is leading the “rescue” team. This is not good news for embattled deputy president William Ruto.

    DP Ruto latest key allies John Muenyesh (Petroleum) and Charles Keter (Power) have fallen by the wayside, as President Uhuru Kenyatta begins a purge at the power firm. Kenya Power has since the days of long-serving managing director Samuel Gichuru been nothing but a den of thriving graft cartels.

    The cartels are said to have artificially created power shortages then introduced the so-called Independent Power Producers (IPP) which took over the production of power using diesel generators at a much higher cost. IPP’s sell power to KPLC at highly inflated costs, CS Mataingi says that this must “come down” by all means to save wananchi from punitive power charges.

    Since the introduction of “Tokens” in recent years, there have been claims that DP Ruto was involved in single-source importation of the gadgets, transformers and concrete posts.

    At the heart of Kenya Power rot are claims of inflated bills retaining “fixed costs” that the government says it had long waived in its efforts to expand electricity connections to the countryside

    The energy sector has remained one of Kenya’s most grafts prone, in which “white elephants” in the Turkwell Gorge in Turkana and the Kerio valley have turned bureaucrats into overnight millionaires.

    At the heart of Kenya Power rot are claims of inflated bills retaining “fixed costs” that the government says it had long waived in its efforts to expand electricity connections to the countryside.

    A well-connected cartel is said to have been making millions from tokens through “smart” computer software manipulation of servers that allows deductions to end up in their pockets before the cash lands in KP coffers!

    While it’s still a matter of wait and sees, the major re-alignments ahead of the Uhuru succession next year, and battle for lucrative state-related business could see matters take a turn for the worst.

    The combative Mataingi says he is “ready” for any eventualities as he vows to clean up the power monopoly that does not even fall under his docket. And it’s a numbing blow to Ruto, who as an astute operator is widely claimed to have made good returns on tender supplies through members of his family including his older son.

    Ruto now sees a drastic cut on his income like that of Jogoo road rental houses he had leased to Kenya Police and which was stopped by President Kenyatta in 2019.

  • UDA politicians want list of properties owned by all VVIPs

    UDA politicians want list of properties owned by all VVIPs

    Politicians allied to the Deputy President Dr. William Ruto now want Interio CS Fred Matiang’i to provide a list of properties owned by other VVIPs after he exposed details of properties owned by Ruto and the number of security details attached to them.

    He further exposed the details of Ruto’s security detail which he said is divided in three layers with the inner the layer consisting of 74 officers drawn from the presidential escort team, 5 highly trained GSU officers and six DCI who provide personal protection to the president’s principal assistant.

    Matiang’i said the second layer has 121 officers drawn from the Administration Police and Prisons Service who are guarding Ruto’s many homes while the outer layer provides security to DP’s businesses, economic life and places he spends most of his time.

    The CS who was in a politically charged session went ahead to reveal that 6 officers are guarding Ruto’s Kitengela Gas, ADC Laikipia Ranch 6, Dolphin hotel 6, Matter farm Eldoret 6, Weston hotel 6, Murumbi land 6,  Elgon View private residence 4, poultry Farm Eldoret 4, private Residence Eldoret 4 and Wilson Airport private hanger 4.

    Interior CS Fred Okengo Matiang’i [p/courtesy]
    Ruto had earlier stated that summoning Matiang’i over the downgrading of security detail guarding his official Karen was a waste of time as he called on parliament to address pressing issues like delicate security in northern Kenya where bandits are having a field day.

    “Parliamentary time should not be wasted on non-issues. The AP is a professional security service and those who think it’s a downgrade are wrong. Parliament should instead focus on deployment to serious security situations in areas where bandits are causing mayhem and destruction,” DP said in a tweet.

    But the DP ‘s office has dismissed Matiang’i list of some of the properties listed as false and reckless. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei challenged the CS to provide a list of properties owned by all the VVIP’s and the number of police officers attached to them including the dead.

    Matiang’i was expected to explain to Kenyans why the State withdrew Ruto’s security but Matiang’i dodged the questions and Ruto’s for what looks like a political expediency move.

     

    The Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi also described Matiang’i and Interior CS Karanja Kibicho as grandmasters of alternative facts and lies. He also accused Matiang’i of hoodwinking the parliament after the CS evaded the fact that GSU officers at the offices and residences of Ruto were replaced with AP officers.