Matiang’i alleges government insiders behind chaos and violent protests in Kenya

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has alleged that some of the chaos and violent protests witnessed across Kenya are being orchestrated by individuals within the government, even as both the state and opposition continue to trade blame over who is responsible for the unrest.

In an interview with Kameme TV on Monday, Matiang’i dismissed the government’s claims of ignorance, arguing that security agencies have access to intelligence and cannot credibly claim not to know who is behind the violence.

“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.

“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?”

Letting down Kenyans

He urged the government to stop trading blame with the opposition over who is responsible for the unrest, warning that both sides are letting down Kenyans.

“The government cannot keep playing this blame game. People are suffering. The time for excuses must end,” he said.

His remarks follow weeks of violent demonstrations, during which both government-allied and opposition leaders have accused each other of hiring goons to infiltrate and disrupt the protests.

At the same time, Matiang’i dismissed ODM leader Raila Odinga’s call for a national dialogue, warning that the proposed forum risks being meaningless unless it genuinely addresses the concerns of Kenya’s youth.

He noted that Gen Z has clearly expressed its demands, which he said the Ruto administration has largely ignored.

“For any democratically elected government, they have to listen and robustly engage the youth,” Matiang’i said.

Avoidable

He added that the Gen Z-led protests of 2024, which climaxed with the storming of Parliament, were avoidable if the administration had listened to the youth earlier.

“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, blaming intelligence failures and poor youth engagement for the protests.

“Such an uprising wouldn’t have happened under my watch,” he added.

Referring to the President’s second speech after the protests, Matiang’i said: “The president’s second speech was hopeful, but it hasn’t happened, and we had another riot.”

Public distrust

According to Matiang’i, the government’s unfulfilled promises have deepened public distrust.

“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 said.

He called on the state to abandon token gestures and instead embrace meaningful, structured dialogue that includes authentic youth representation.

“Whatever side of the political divide you are on, these issues need to be addressed. This is not about parties. It is about people,” Matiang’i said.

Excessive force

On the question of security response to protests, Matiang’i cautioned against the use of excessive force.

“Please do not turn your weapons on your fellow citizens… exercise restraint and sobriety,” he said.

He directly appealed to President Ruto, saying: “I urge the government not to harden its heart but to genuinely listen to the citizens’ cry for justice and reform.”

He warned that ignoring the youth will only prolong unrest.

“How many lives are we going to lose before we start listening to each other?” he posed.

Matiang’i dismissed reports that Gen Z protesters had planned to storm State House in a bid to overthrow the government, saying such claims were a tactic by the current administration to deflect attention and avoid accountability.

“The news of people wanting to invade the State House and probably overturn the government is mere rumour. Even if people say they want to invade the State House, it cannot be equated with an attempt against the government,” he said.

“We need to say the truth. We have a problem in the country; we have issues of leadership that are not going right. We need to have time to talk between leaders and the people, instead of proceeding the way we are about issues."

He urged national leaders to reflect honestly on the governance failures fuelling unrest.

“It is all down to failing in one mandate and resorting to politics of excuses,” Matiang’i said, warning that unless trust is rebuilt between leadership and citizens, the cycle of unrest and frustration will persist.