Mulembe Times
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has broken his silence on the Gen Z-led protests that rocked Kenya on June 25, 2024, stating emphatically that such a breach of Parliament and public order would never have occurred under his leadership.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night, Matiang’i reflected on the unprecedented nature of the protests, which saw thousands of young Kenyans take to the streets in a historic show of defiance against government policies. While supporting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, the former CS questioned the government’s failure to anticipate and manage the protest effectively.
“What I would have done differently: it would not have happened under my watch. How would it have gotten to a point that there’s a rampage in town, Parliament is overrun? Since 1963, this has never happened before,” Matiang’i asserted.
Missed Signals and Unused Intelligence
According to Matiang’i, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had the capacity to foresee such mass mobilisations and should have been more proactive in advising the government. He noted that effective use of intelligence would have allowed authorities to preempt the protests by engaging with Gen Z organisers constructively.
“It’s not a surprise accident. It’s something that ought to have been known. I know the NIS capacity, and I expected the government to orchestrate an all-party inquiry to answer the question of what happened,” he said.
Matiang’i argued that leadership requires anticipation and dialogue—tools he claims were lacking in the current administration’s approach. He said that instead of allowing the situation to escalate to chaos, he would have initiated structured discussions with young people to address their grievances and co-create solutions.
The Message from Gen Z
Dr. Matiang’i acknowledged the legitimacy of the Gen Z protestors’ concerns and commended their peaceful organisation.
“If you were to write a manifesto out of the Gen Z uprising, you would outline several things: one is that Gen Zs feel their voices are not being heard. The time has come for leaders to have honest conversations with young people,” he said.
He contrasted the recent protests with past opposition-led demonstrations, arguing that while previous protests often turned violent, the Gen Z movement demonstrated discipline and a clear message.
Reflections on Policing and Protest Management
The former CS also addressed concerns about police brutality, a long-standing issue that resurfaced during both his tenure and the recent protests. While acknowledging that there were excesses under his watch, Matiang’i emphasized that the Ministry of Interior maintained transparency and took responsibility where necessary.
“We don’t train police to kill citizens. The theory of policing is for the preservation of law and order. That doesn’t mean individual officers can go above their responsibilities,” he said, citing the existence of conflict management protocols and standing orders.
He warned that while rogue officers may act outside the law, this should not reflect the institution as a whole. He called for stronger oversight and accountability within the police service to prevent abuse of power.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Matiang’i also recalled the heightened security challenges during his tenure, such as terrorist threats in coastal regions and the 2019 DusitD2 complex attack in Nairobi. He said the security apparatus at the time had to be alert and strategic in preventing destabilisation.
He closed by expressing disappointment with how the aftermath of the June 25 protests has been handled. While he found President William Ruto’s second address to the nation hopeful, he believes subsequent inaction has deepened the disconnect between youth and government.
“Clearly, it hasn’t happened, and we’ve already had another riot. I don’t know what will be done to avert the next one.”
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i says the Gen Z-led Parliament breach on June 25, 2024, would never have happened under his watch, citing failure in intelligence use and lack of youth engagement.
