Former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has hit back at critics who labelled his leadership style authoritarian, asserting that he was simply enforcing the law and ensuring accountability. Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, the presidential hopeful said that following rules should not be mistaken for brutality.
“I hear people saying we were autocratic, but transformation cannot happen on its own,” Matiang’i said. “People admire Singapore’s progress, but how did they achieve it? Through discipline and sacrifice.”
Matiang’i noted that when he took charge of the Interior Ministry, he found a disorganized system with no proper records of licensed gun holders a loophole that posed a serious national security threat. He recalled initiating a nationwide firearm audit under the Firearms Act (Cap. 114), which mandates strict procedures for gun ownership.
“We discovered that the ministry had no record of private firearm owners,” he said. “We had to cancel licenses and start afresh. Some people, including leaders, failed psychiatric tests and one even committed murder.”
The former CS emphasized that his actions were guided by law and national interest, not authoritarianism. He added that if elected president in 2027, he would apply the same principles to restore discipline and efficiency in governance.
“We don’t need new laws; we need to enforce the existing ones,” Matiang’i stated. “What Kenya needs is leadership by example. You can’t tell people to stop stealing while you engage in the same behavior.”
Matiang’i maintained that his leadership philosophy is rooted in structure, integrity, and results. “Things do not just happen; we must work for them,” he concluded, pledging to lead with firm but fair governance if given the mandate in 2027.
