Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i has issued a resolute call for a public inquest into the country's dark history of alleged extrajudicial killings. His demand for unvarnished transparency and unequivocal accountability comes at a critical juncture, directly following his visit to victims of the recent June 25 anti-government protests at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Accompanied by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Dr. Matiang'i's appearance and subsequent statement have added considerable weight to the persistent public outcry for justice. The former powerful Cabinet Secretary expressed his unequivocal readiness to cooperate fully with investigators and to testify in open court regarding several deeply unsettling and high-profile cases that have remained unresolved for years, continuing to cast a long shadow over the nation's commitment to the rule of law.
Among the specific cases Dr. Matiang'i highlighted are the chilling murders of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official Chris Msando, the outspoken businessman Jacob Juma, and Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei, a police officer formerly attached to then-Deputy President William Ruto. Each of these cases carries a unique and painful narrative of unanswered questions and lingering suspicion. Chris Msando's torture and murder just days before the 2017 general election, Jacob Juma's assassination widely linked to his anti-corruption activism, and Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei's mysterious death amidst a fake arms deal scandal in the Deputy President's office, have long fueled public demand for truth and justice.
Dr. Matiang'i also underscored the urgent need for a thorough and public investigation into the grim discovery of numerous bodies in River Yala. This notorious waterway became synonymous with a dumping ground for unidentified individuals, many bearing signs of torture, sparking widespread alarm and persistent calls from human rights organizations for comprehensive probes. The former CS’s inclusion of these cases reaffirms the broad spectrum of unresolved injustices that Kenya must confront.
"The truth will set us all free," Dr. Matiang'i declared, emphasizing a fundamental principle of justice: that no individual, regardless of their stature or connections, should be deemed above the law, especially when it concerns matters of life and death. He stressed that genuine national progress remains elusive as long as these painful and unresolved issues, some predating 2023, continue to fester. "Let us have an open, public inquest before a magistrate or a judge. Let us present the information and facts that we have," he urged, advocating for a formal, public process that can unearth suppressed truths and bring closure to grieving families.
