Matiang’i dares govt to charge opposition leaders over June 25 demos

 Matiang’i dares govt to charge opposition leaders over June 25 demos

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has hit back at the government’s allegations linking opposition leaders to the chaos witnessed during the June 25 protests, urging authorities to pursue legal action instead of issuing public threats.

Speaking on Thursday after visiting victims of police brutality at Kenyatta National Hospital alongside Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator Richard Onyonka, Matiang’i condemned the violence but accused the state of politicizing the crisis.

“If opposition leaders planned the destruction, arrest them. Don’t give us stories,” he challenged. “You’re in government, you have the tools—use them. If there’s evidence, act. Don’t weaponise public statements.”

His remarks were in direct response to statements made by Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, who had earlier alleged that the protests were not genuine demonstrations but an attempted coup disguised as activism.

“What happened on June 25 was an organised attempt to overthrow the government,” Murkomen had said, claiming that security agencies had surveillance footage showing vehicles ferrying cash to fuel the unrest.

He further alleged that protesters targeted property linked to government allies, suggesting a deeper political plot funded by opposition forces.

But Matiang’i dismissed such accusations, saying government officials were using inflammatory rhetoric instead of due process. He warned that politicizing law enforcement only erodes public trust.

“A cabinet secretary should not make wild claims in press conferences,” he said. “If you believe someone is guilty of inciting or funding violence, charge them. Don’t turn media briefings into courts.”

Matiang’i’s comments add to the mounting tensions following the June 25 protests, which left at least 16 people dead, most from police shootings. While the Interior Ministry vows to go after those behind the unrest, opposition leaders accuse the government of using intimidation to suppress dissent.

As both camps dig in, Kenya remains deeply polarized, with the June 25 demonstrations emerging as a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing political crisis.