Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has issued a stern and public warning to the current government, condemning what he termed an “unprecedented abuse of state power,” “arrogance,” and “incredible misuse of public resources” during the recently concluded Mbeere North by-election.

Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Canon Penina Ciambogo Ngung’i in Kanyuambora, Dr. Matiang’i urged the State to immediately halt what he described as escalating electoral malpractices and protect the integrity of Kenya’s democratic processes, cautioning that repeated manipulation risks plunging the country into political instability.

The former CS, a powerful figure in the previous administration, contrasted the current political climate with the intentions of the nation’s founders.

“The founders of this nation, the people who fought for this country, must be turning in their graves to see what we’re seeing now, unprecedented abuse of state power and incredible misuse of public resources and arrogance that has not been seen recently from government,” Dr. Matiang’i stated.

He specifically criticized the ostentatious display of wealth and state machinery during the Mbeere North campaigns, calling it insensitive given the prevailing economic hardship faced by many Kenyans.

“Yale mambo tumeona wiki hii ni ya ajabu… People are entering there with planes and noise and madoido and arrogance and boasting, giving out money and saying ‘we are the government, there is nothing you will do’ and such things,” he said, describing state officials visiting the ward multiple times a day.

Dr. Matiang’i drew on his own experience in power to caution the current leadership about the ephemeral nature of authority. “Power comes and goes, ask me, I was Interior CS before. I understand government; the kind of things we’re seeing here are going to destroy our country. Please take this seriously, there’s a limit to which you can push people. Because you don’t know how these people will respond to constant harassment, intimidation, bravado and unprecedented abuse of power.”

Dr. Matiang’i’s sentiments were strongly echoed by other leaders present. Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi sharply questioned the reported Ksh 600 million cost of the by-election, arguing that such an amount could have been channeled into crucial development projects within Mbeere North. Linturi went further to issue a political threat, stating, “Come 2027, I can tell you and I swear, standing here, whatever we saw will not be repeated because nobody will have that kind of machinery and power and money to spend on one seat and I will tell you Ruto will be a one-term president.”

Democratic Party leader and former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi also raised concerns over alleged irregularities during voting and tallying, hinting at the possibility of legal action to challenge the conduct of the poll. “We shall consider every option available, including seeking legal redress, because elections must reflect the true will of the people,” Muturi noted.

The presence of influential figures like Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni and Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba reinforced the message, all emphasizing the critical importance of transparency, public trust, and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral processes in Kenya.