Kenyan lawyer and political activist Miguna Miguna has strongly opposed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s rumored 2027 presidential ambitions, calling him unfit to lead due to what he terms a legacy of “atrocities, lawlessness, and abuse of power.”
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Sunday, Miguna accused Matiang’i of being central to a period of repression and impunity during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He cited personal experiences, including his 2018 abduction, deportation, and prolonged exile, as evidence of Matiang’i’s disregard for the rule of law.
“Dr Matiang’i exemplified the abuse of power in its purest form,” Miguna declared. “From River Yala murders to my abduction, destruction of my home, and torture he defied multiple court orders and operated with complete impunity.”
Miguna, who was deported after participating in the controversial mock swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga, accused Matiang’i of personally overseeing his sedation and unlawful expulsion to Dubai. He also claimed the former CS blocked his return to Kenya for years through “illegal red alerts.”
He noted that courts, including rulings by Justices George Odunga and Chacha Mwita, found Matiang’i culpable for violating his rights and court orders. Yet, Miguna lamented that no accountability has followed, even under President William Ruto’s government.
“The Ruto regime has refused to enforce those court rulings,” he said. “People like Matiang’i, Kibicho, Kiprotich, and Kinoti should be in jail for contempt of court.”
Miguna also revealed that he has filed lawsuits seeking “huge damages” from Matiang’i and others for torture, illegal detention, and deportation.
He criticized President Ruto for allegedly failing to honor a promise to resolve his legal grievances upon his return to Kenya in 2022. “Like many other lies Ruto has told Kenyans, he did not follow through,” Miguna said.
He urged Kenyans to reject leaders “tainted by a legacy of constitutional subversion and impunity,” insisting that Matiang’i’s past disqualifies him from holding public office.
Matiang’i has denied wrongdoing, stating that his actions were within the confines of law enforcement and national security.
