Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has pledged to lead with honesty, humility, and authenticity if elected president, distancing himself from what he termed as staged religious displays by some politicians.
Speaking during a community event in Maryland, Baltimore, on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Matiang’i said his leadership style would be grounded in realism rather than public performances of faith meant to project moral superiority.
“When I become president, I won’t walk around carrying a Bible to appear holier than thou. I’m not here to perform righteousness. I’m here to lead with honesty. I’m a realistic sinner. When I fall short, I don’t stage it for the cameras. I go into my innermost room, kneel down, and ask God for forgiveness, quietly, humbly, and sincerely,” he said.
Matiang’i said that faith, for him, is deeply personal and not a political tool. He criticized the trend of using religion to gain public approval, saying true spirituality shouldn’t be flaunted.
Positioning himself as a grounded and authentic leader, Matiang’i emphasized that his presidency would prioritize substance over spectacle. He committed to serving Kenyans with integrity, not image.
“Leadership is not about looking perfect. It’s about being real. And I would rather be a flawed man who seeks grace in private than a hypocrite who pretends to be holy in public,” he added.
