Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i weighed in on the recent wave of protests and violence across the country, claiming that elements within the government maybe fueling the unrest.
Speaking during a live interview with Kameme TV on Monday, July 14, 2025, Matiang’i said he has credible information suggesting that some of the individuals behind the chaos are being sponsored by government leaders.
“The information we have is that some of the goons were probably planned by leaders from the government. I was an interior minister for five years, and I am not speaking in jest. I know and understand the government like the back of my hand, having been in there for some years,” he said.
Matiang’i challenged the government to take responsibility and act decisively instead of engaging in a blame game with the opposition.
“This chaos we are witnessing of people going around and terrorising Kenyans, you cannot tell me the government doesn’t know what is happening. Which government can say it doesn’t know what is happening? For a long time in Kenya, we have been saying the government has a long arm. Where has it gone now?” he posed.
Matiang’i Rejects Raila’s Conclave Plan
The 2027 presidential hopeful at the same time dismissed Raila Odinga’s proposal for a national conclave, cautioning that any dialogue will be meaningless unless it genuinely addresses the frustrations of Kenya’s youth.
In a candid assessment of the Gen Z-led public outcry, Matiang’i said the younger generation has spoken with clarity and consistency, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of ignoring their voices and failing to confront what many see as a deepening national crisis.
“For any democratically elected government, they have to listen and robustly engage the youth,” Matiang’i said during a live interview.
While he acknowledged that a national dialogue would not be a bad thing, he made sure to point out that the essential question is if the government is actually ready to do something that will lead to real change. “The youth are saying that your government has not listened. These are not just complaints; these are cries rooted in economic hardship, systemic neglect, and exclusion,” he stated.
Matiang’i pointed to the 2024 Gen Z–led protests as as a clear indication of the widening rift between President Ruto’s administration and the youth of the country. He described the Parliament storming on June 25, 2024, as an avoidable outcome of a system that failed and poorer engagement with the youth.
“If you were to write a manifesto out of the Gen Z uprising, you would outline several things; one is that Gen Z’s voice is not being heard,” he said.
He argued that the crisis would not have occurred during his tenure in office, laying the blame on government failure due to weak state intelligence and a lack of forward-thinking youth inclusion.
“How Many Lives Must Be Lost?” Matiang’i Presses Ruto on Youth Demands
Matiang’i also criticized the manner in which the government reacted to the aftermath of the demonstrations. He recalled President Ruto’s second public address following the mayhem, which was one of hope and a call to conciliation, and the promises and an open discourse.
“The president’s second speech was hopeful, but it hasn’t happened, and we had another riot,” he said.
Matiang’i also warned that the failure by the government to honor its own promises, particularly those made after the Gen Z protests, has further deteriorated the public’s distrust and solidified the growing perception that the government is out of touch with citizens.
He called on the government to move beyond tokenism and make a commitment to real, inclusive dialogue. Ma cautioned that the proposed national conclave will be a failure if it does not incorporate real youth voices and lacks a visible path to real reform.
He also put forward the point that the unrest transgresses party politics, calling on leaders to act with humanity, not partisanship. “Whatever side of the political divide you are on, these issues need to be addressed. This is not about parties. It is about people,” he said.
Matiang’i appealed to the state to uphold the right to protest and urged security forces to handle demonstrations with restraint. “Please do not turn your weapons on your fellow citizens… exercise restraint and sobriety,” he pleaded.
The former Education CSalso made a direct appeal to President Ruto and his closest circle to relax their positions and heed the people’s growing demands for justice, reforms, and accountability.
“I urge the government not to harden its heart but to genuinely listen to the citizens’ cry for justice and reform,” he said.
Matiang’i warned that continued political deafness would come at a steep cost. “How many lives are we going to lose before we start listening to each other?” he posed.
He insisted that unless the government rebuilds trust and adopts inclusive, responsive governance, Kenya could face a prolonged period of unrest, disillusionment, and missed opportunities for national progress.
