Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has called for a public inquiry into unresolved high-profile murders in Kenya, including the controversial River Yala cases. Speaking at Kenyatta National Hospital during a visit to victims of the recent Gen Z protests alongside Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Matiang’i stressed the importance of impartial investigations to bring justice and closure to affected families.
This marks the first time Matiang’i has addressed the River Yala cases, which sparked national outrage during his tenure. Over the years, dozens of unidentified bodies were recovered from the river, with allegations that they were victims of extrajudicial killings. Matiang’i’s remarks come amid growing public demand for transparency and accountability in such unresolved cases.
“We can deal with all the murders that have not been conclusively investigated whether we start with Musando, then Jacob Juma, Sergeant Kenei, and those found in River Yala,” Matiang’i stated. “Let all these cases be investigated through an open public inquest so we can move forward, explain, and face the public on these matters.”
Matiang’i, who has declared his intent to run for the presidency in 2027, criticised the use of social media to spread unverified claims that he said are often used to tarnish reputations. He emphasized the need to confront issues through formal processes rather than speculation.
“Some of these matters are raised, and we just go round in circles. We cannot have government by blogging let’s address the real issues affecting our people,” he said.
Referencing the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests, which resulted in multiple fatalities and the storming of Parliament, Matiang’i said the country must conduct a thorough investigation into what transpired.
Reflecting on his tenure, he cited cases such as Baby Pendo in Kisumu and the Kianjokoma brothers, where the government admitted to wrongdoing and took corrective action. “Let us not continue sweeping things under the carpet,” he said.
Matiang’i’s call adds pressure on the current administration to initiate public inquests into Kenya’s most disturbing unresolved killings.
