Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has called out the government for issuing blanket accusations against opposition leaders over recent protests, urging investigative agencies to present solid evidence instead.
Matiang’i criticized the state for blaming the opposition for the June 25 and July 7 demonstrations that left several people dead and millions worth of property destroyed and looted.
“There is nobody in this world called ‘opposition.’ People have names,” Matiang’i said. “That blanket and general condemnation is part of the laziness, recklessness, and escapist behavior.”
He urged authorities to be specific when pointing fingers.
“Be direct and say who is responsible. We are a mature country, and we are better than this,” he added.
His remarks come amid rising political tension between President William Ruto’s administration and sections of the opposition, as well as leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, recently arrested over remarks deemed inciting, has accused the government of political persecution.
“On the day of the protests, I wasn’t even in Naivasha. I stayed away because I knew they were targeting those of us who said Gachagua should not be sidelined,” she said.
Her claims add to growing friction within the ruling coalition, with critics accusing the government of silencing dissent through intimidation and arrests.
Meanwhile the opposition has continued to pressure the government over failure to deliver on their pre-election promises while the state maintains that opposition-linked elements are behind the recent unrest in the country.
