‘Power Comes and Goes’ – Matiang’i Sends Sharp Warning to President Ruto
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i issued a strong warning to President William Ruto’s administration on Saturday, November 29, while speaking about the chaos witnessed during recent by-elections across several parts of the country.
During the event, which took place at the funeral service of Canon Penina Ciambogo Ngũng’ĩ in Mbeere North, Embu County, Matiang’i – who also serves as the Jubilee Party’s Deputy Leader – criticised the government for what he termed as growing “arrogance” and misuse of state machinery to influence election outcomes.
Matiang’i accused certain leaders aligned with the government of taking advantage of state power to intimidate voters, coerce officials, and bend the mini-polls in their favour.
He pointed out that instead of allowing the people to choose freely, some individuals used threats and state influence to push their preferred candidates.
He singled out the Mbeere North by-election as a clear example. In the closely fought race, UDA candidate Leo Wamuthende narrowly defeated Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Newton “Karish” Kariuki.
Despite the victory, the contest was overshadowed by incidents of violence and unrest. Matiang’i thanked residents of the area for resisting what he said was an attempt to undermine their democratic rights.
“What we have seen this week has been shocking,” he said. “I want to thank the people of Mbeere North because you stood strong in the face of arrogance and intimidation.”
Turning to the situation in Malava, Matiang’i noted that the violence and tension there were equally disturbing. “What happened in Malava was unfortunate.
And let me speak from experience — power comes and goes. I was once the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, and I coordinated government operations. There is nothing new to me,” he said, suggesting that those currently in office should not assume power is permanent.
He cautioned that the pattern of threats, chaos, and intimidation being seen during elections could push the country into instability.
Drawing comparisons with several African nations that have recently experienced unrest, including Guinea-Bissau, Matiang’i warned that Kenya could face similar consequences if leaders fail to act responsibly.
“You cannot keep pushing people forever. One day, you will be shocked by how citizens respond to intimidation, harassment, and the abuse of authority. Power does not last forever,” he added.
Overall, government-backed candidates emerged victorious in most of the major parliamentary by-elections, while the opposition secured wins in a number of MCA contests.
Despite these victories, in several regions UDA and its allies faced stiff competition, with tight margins that revealed growing pressure on the ruling coalition.
For example, in Mbeere North, Leo Wamuthende won by just 482 votes. In Malava Constituency, David Ndakwa secured 21,564 votes, barely surpassing DAP-K’s Seth Panyako, who received 20,210 votes.
In Mandera County’s Banissa constituency, UDA’s Ahmed Maalim Hassan also clinched the parliamentary seat with 10,431 votes.
As he concluded his remarks, Matiang’i made another subtle reference to his time in government, reminding those in power today that leadership is temporary.
“The problem we face now is that we have bad leaders. But we will overcome this challenge. Let us keep hope alive and move forward together,” he said.
His message was clear: power should be used to serve the people, not to intimidate them — and those who misuse it should remember that their time in office will eventually end.
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