NAIROBI — Dr. Fred Matiang’i has re-emerged on the national stage with a stern warning to the country’s leadership: “You don’t need a PhD from Harvard to know we’re headed in the wrong direction.”
Speaking just four days after nationwide protests left several injured and the country rattled, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary called for sober reflection and a reset in the way Kenya handles dissent, governance, and public trust.
“We are not fine,” he told reporters at a Nairobi hotel on Saturday. “This cycle of violence and disagreements and protests really has to come to an end.”
Matiang’i’s comments come in the wake of the June 25 demonstrations, largely driven by Gen Z Kenyans protesting the rising cost of living, corruption, and political arrogance. What began as peaceful rallies in major cities turned chaotic, with several confrontations reported between police and protestors.
But Matiang’i was clear: the youth are not the problem. “What our young people are seeking is that they are listened to,” he said. “And our leaders in government, who are the ones with power, are the only ones who can put people together.”
He sharply criticised those who have responded to the crisis with tribal finger-pointing or dismissed the protests as mere political noise. “It’s worse than a joke, honestly,” he said. “We cannot trivialise a national crisis and turn it into hilarious banter. Let’s be serious.”
In one of the most pointed lines of his address, he added: “When something like this happens, and I hear some of the comments being made by leaders, I find it hard to even repeat them. We’re not facing jokes this is a crisis.”
Matiang’i’s remarks reflect growing frustration among many Kenyans who feel the country’s leadership is out of touch. The demonstrations have been marked by slogans like “tumechoka” “we’re tired” chanted by young people who say they’ve lost faith in political promises.
He also warned against dragging the country prematurely into the 2027 election cycle, saying political manoeuvring should take a back seat until national stability is restored. “This is not the time for elections talk,” Matiang’i said. “This is a time for leadership. Let’s restore peace, rebuild trust, and solve problems before we talk about ballots.”
Calling on both citizens and leaders to treat this moment as a test of patriotism, he urged the government to stop hiding behind excuses. “Let’s stand up and do the right thing for our country, and it cannot be based on excuses some of them laughable,” he said.
Matiang’i, once one of the most powerful figures in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet, has kept a low profile since leaving office. His return to the spotlight and his blunt tone signals not just concern but perhaps a deeper frustration shared by many in Kenya’s middle class and civil service.
