By Bonface Mulyungi

Jubilee presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i has accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of tolerating impunity and engaging in what he termed “unhelpful public relations”, saying the country needs firm leadership that will hold individuals accountable for wrongdoing.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Speaking to Citizen TV’s Sunday Live said the problems facing the country are well known, but leaders have failed to act decisively, allowing “criminal activities” and law-breaking to persist across sectors.

“The challenges of our country are known… Most times we just engage in sometimes very unhelpful public relations,” he said.

In the interview, Matiang’i said that if given an opportunity to lead, he would not tolerate impunity and would pursue accountability, including pushing for arrests where necessary.

“If I had the opportunity myself, I would call these people to account, including having some of them locked up,” he said.

He criticised what he described as a culture where serious issues happen and leaders “laugh about them”, calling it impunity that has spread across government.

“This is impunity. Every sector you look, there is a law breaking that shocks you,” Matiang’i said.

The former CS also took aim at President William Ruto’s leadership, arguing that a president is elected to govern the country and not “to own it”.

“Their president is elected to govern the country, not to own it… What you see going on is an attempt to own the country,” he said.

Matiang’i challenged those in government who accuse the opposition of lacking an agenda to present their track record for public scrutiny, saying he was ready to do the same based on his decade-long stint as a Cabinet minister.

“It’s good that they are telling us. Let everybody put their track record on the table. I am willing to put mine… Let them put theirs also,” he said.

He said the country was “declining” in key areas, including education and security, warning that dropout rates could be rising again.

He also raised concern over insecurity, claiming there were “crazy things” happening where “goons and police are operating side-by-side”, and argued that security structures at regional level should be able to identify those behind the violence.

“You cannot convince me that the regional security committee in Kisumu does not know who is effecting that nonsense,” he said.

On the rising fuel prices, Matiang’i said responsibility lies squarely with President Ruto, arguing that the buck stops at the Head of State’s desk.

“The buck stops at the desk of the president. That’s it. These people work for him,” he said.

He said a serious president should act against officials who fail to deliver, adding that he would not make excuses if elected.

“I promise, Kenyans, I will not make excuses,” he said, adding that he would “call people to account” and take tough action.

Matiang’i also referenced President Ruto’s remarks following the 2024 Gen Z protests, saying the President had publicly suggested his Cabinet “probably would have done better”, and questioned why corrective action was not taken.