Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has spoken out on last year’s historic Gen Z-led protests that culminated in the storming of Kenya’s Parliament. According to the seasoned former security boss, the events of June 25, 2024, would have taken a completely different turn had he been in office.
Highlights:
- Matiang’i says he would have prevented the storming of Parliament if he was still Interior CS.
- He faults failure to act on intelligence and lack of proactive youth engagement.
- The former CS advocates for national dialogue and inclusive leadership going forward.
- His comments align with growing speculation about a 2027 presidential bid.
Main Story:
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Dr. Fred Matiang’i reflected on the 2024 Gen Z protests that made headlines globally. He was categorical: had he still been in charge of internal security, the breach of Parliament would not have happened.
Matiang’i emphasized that Kenya’s security institutions have the intelligence capacity to anticipate such events and act early. He cited his past use of intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to engage with potentially disruptive groups before they escalated into crises.
While Matiang’i is known for his firm grip on matters of law and order, his remarks carried a more measured tone. He acknowledged the legitimacy of youth grievances and stressed that “listening and early engagement” would have been central to his strategy.
Rather than waiting for tensions to boil over, he said he would have facilitated national dialogue and preemptive discussions to address the root causes behind the protests.
Matiang’i’s remarks come amid increasing public appearances that some analysts interpret as early signs of a 2027 presidential campaign. By combining hardline experience with a message of inclusive leadership, he appears to be shaping a new image—one that speaks to both national stability and generational change.
He warned that dismissing the youth movement or mishandling it through brute force would only push the country closer to instability.
With Kenya’s political climate shifting fast, Matiang’i’s words echo a deeper question: Can tough leadership and youth inclusion coexist in the country’s future?
