Matiang'i Tears Into Ruto Government, Promises Sweeping Reforms If Elected President

By Dennis Dibondo.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of failing to deliver meaningful development and presiding over a deterioration of key sectors including education, healthcare and national security.

Speaking at Kithaene Primary School grounds in South Imenti Constituency during a requiem mass for Patrick Kiogora, Matiang’i said the country had witnessed a worrying decline since the Kenya Kwanza administration took office.

He particularly criticised the state of the education and health sectors, arguing that programmes implemented under the Jubilee administration had performed better.

Matiang’i cited the Linda Mama programme, which provided free maternal healthcare services, as one of the successful initiatives that he said should be restored and improved.

“Linda Mama was a very successful programme for mothers,” Matiang’i said, adding that the education system had also been functioning better before the current administration took over.

“The education system was working out very well, but now it has a lot of challenges,” he said.

The former powerful Cabinet Secretary also expressed concern over recent incidents of political violence, saying scenes witnessed in Homa Bay County were disturbing for an independent country.

“It is completely unbelievable. The level of crime and goons in this country is shocking,” Matiang’i said.

He accused the government of failing to maintain peace and security, saying former President Uhuru Kenyatta had handed over a peaceful country.

“There is no reason for us to kill each other just because of politics. Let government be government because sometimes you may think you are watching a movie when you see people distributing pangas in broad daylight,” he said.

Matiang’i went further, saying that if he were in President Ruto’s position, he would have considered resigning over what he described as poor performance by the administration.

“If I was President Ruto, I would have resigned,” he said.

He said the government had performed below expectations, describing the situation as “beyond shameful”.

Matiang’i also raised concerns over school dropout rates, claiming that the country was sliding backwards in education gains made during the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki.

“We thought they would have problems, but we did not think it would be that bad, such that our dropout rate in school is back to before the late President Mwai Kibaki assumed office,” he said.

He recalled that the introduction of free primary education under Kibaki had seen more than one million children return to school, including the famous elderly learner, Kimani Maruge.

The former CS further accused President Ruto of mishandling university education through changes to the higher education funding model.

He said former President Uhuru Kenyatta had ensured a 100 per cent transition from primary school to university, but claimed that the gains were now under threat.

“President William Ruto should not worry. We understand it can be too difficult for him, but there are Kenyans who can do it. If you have failed, just accept and go home. You will not be the first President to fail his pledges,” Matiang’i said.

Matiang’i, who has emerged as a key figure in the opposition political realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election, promised sweeping reforms if elected president.

He said Kenyans would be surprised by his record within two years of taking office.

“We will restore programmes like Linda Mama in a better way and you will not hear of goons again,” he said.

Matiang’i was accompanied by former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary and former Meru Governor Peter Munya, who also criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration over the rising cost of living and the state of the economy.

Munya questioned government statistics showing economic growth, saying many Kenyans were struggling to afford basic necessities.

“Government statistics say that more than two million Kenyans have now gone beyond the poverty line and they cannot afford two meals in a day,” Munya said.

He accused the government of using Gross Domestic Product figures to portray an improving economy while ordinary Kenyans continued to face economic hardship.

Munya also urged residents of Meru not to support President Ruto solely because he appointed Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to the second-highest office in the country.

“If we are looking at leadership, let us look for leadership that is helping us all. If President William Ruto has failed, let us look for someone else instead,” he said.

The former Meru governor also criticised the Social Health Authority, saying the programme had failed to meet public expectations.

“When SHA was being introduced and NHIF abolished, we were told that it would be better, but in reality, it is worse. The only time we see it working is on TV when they are discussing it,” Munya said.

He also raised concerns over the tea sector, claiming that a new 0.8 per cent levy imposed on tea buyers would ultimately affect farmers.

“Already, tea farming is struggling and the tax of about 0.8 per cent has been added to tea buyers, meaning it will trickle down to farmers,” he said.

Munya argued that the Senate should have been involved in considering the legislation, noting that agriculture is a devolved function.

“Tea farming is done in counties and since agriculture is devolved, senators should also look at the Bill,” he said.

Munya announced that he would contest the Meru gubernatorial seat in 2027 on a PNU Party ticket and declared his support for Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions.

Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, however, said there were genuine concerns surrounding the 0.8 per cent tea levy, which he claimed was introduced through regulations initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture.

“It is something sneaked through by the Ministry of Agriculture. It was not a Bill in Parliament. The Delegated Legislation Committee is the one given these regulations,” Kathuri said.

He said he had raised the matter with Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and asked him to revoke the gazetted levy.

Kathuri argued that the matter should have been subjected to broader parliamentary consideration instead of being handled by a committee.

He said that when the Senate resumed proceedings in September, he would table a motion seeking to revoke the regulations.

The senator also acknowledged challenges facing the SHA, noting that the programme was covering a significantly larger number of Kenyans compared to the former National Hospital Insurance Fund.

He said SHA was now expected to cover about 32 million Kenyans, compared to the approximately six million previously covered under NHIF.

Kathuri, however, argued that shortages of drugs and other supplies in public health facilities were contributing to the perception that SHA had failed, adding that county governments also had a role to play in ensuring health facilities were adequately equipped.

He further accused opposition leaders of exploiting challenges facing the government for political gain, saying they were also seeking to take over power.

The sharp exchange of views at the Meru gathering comes as political leaders intensify their campaigns and position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.