Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i has accused President William Ruto’s administration of turning violence into a political tool, claiming the chaos witnessed in Homa Bay was planned and could not have happened without the knowledge of senior security officials.
Matiang’i said the incidents reported in Homa Bay, Mulot, Nakuru and Kisii were part of a wider pattern that should worry Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election. He warned that the country was already facing a serious crisis and could be moving towards lawlessness if political violence continues unchecked.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary questioned how the violence in Homa Bay could have reached the reported scale despite the presence of security agencies in the region.
“I do not think and I cannot see how the scale of violence in Homa Bay and the activity that happened there could have happened without the knowledge of the National Security Council, and without the knowledge, especially of the president,” he said.
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Matiang’i described the Homa Bay unrest as “premeditated” and “very well planned”, pointing to the security resources available in the area.
He noted that the region had General Service Unit officers and border police, raising questions about why the security teams failed to prevent the violence or stop it from spreading.
The former Interior CS said his assessment was informed by his nearly five years in charge of the ministry and his experience dealing with security matters.
“This is something I know like the back of my hand,” he said.
Matiang’i questioned the whereabouts and actions of senior security officials in the area during the incidents, particularly the county commissioner, regional commissioner and regional police commander.
He also criticised the government over what he described as a failure to make arrests and take legal action after earlier cases of political violence.
He cited the reported attack on opposition leaders in Keumbu, Kisii County, saying the lack of arrests and prosecutions in such cases was a worrying sign.
“We are already in a crisis. We have now begun our final descent into anarchy as a country. Let’s not pretend about it,” he said.
Matiang’i further called on opposition parties to put aside their political differences and join forces in dealing with what he described as a worsening political and security situation.
The Jubilee leader said his party would not allow the country to follow what he sees as a dangerous path towards greater political violence.
“We as Jubilee are going to refuse to walk down that path. We will work together to ensure that unity prevails,” he said.
Matiang’i also expressed concern over what he described as the spread of small arms, claiming that armed people were present during the Homa Bay unrest.
He warned that the presence of firearms and growing political tensions could make the country more unstable as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
His remarks came a day after a Linda Mwananchi political movement rally in Homa Bay descended into chaos.
The rally, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition leaders, was disrupted after roads were blocked and groups clashed, with stones and tear gas used during the unrest.
The incident reportedly left some people injured and resulted in damage to property, further raising political tensions surrounding opposition activities in the region.