A controversial old video of former Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has resurfaced, igniting fierce debate amid ongoing Saba Saba protests.
In the clip, Matiang’i is heard declaring, “We will deploy fire and force, na mtu asikuje kuniambia mambo ya human rights,” during a confrontation with protesters, dismissing human rights concerns while threatening aggressive police action.
The video, widely shared on platforms like X, has fuelled public anger over Kenya’s history of heavy-handed protest suppression, especially as the nation grapples with deadly unrest that claimed at least 11 lives on July 7, 2025.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander !!.
U.Kenyatta was the President. https://t.co/4BrOmdjHtC pic.twitter.com/PybyI9m9Gl— Leki_Emmanuel (@EmmanueLeki_) July 7, 2025
The video, believed to be from 2018, shows Matiang’i addressing opposition supporters in Gusii land, where he allegedly threatened to use the “Chinkororo” militia and instructed police to ignore abuses.
Netizens claim the remarks were made during protests linked to electoral disputes following the 2017 elections, a period marked by significant violence.
One person alleged Matiang’i oversaw the deaths of over 100 protesters in 2018 and ordered media blackouts to suppress coverage.
The timing of the video’s re-emergence coincides with heightened tensions during the 2025 Saba Saba protests, where police roadblocks in 17 counties caused business closures and an estimated Sh18 billion daily GDP loss.
Critics argue Matiang’i’s past rhetoric reflects a systemic culture of impunity within Kenya’s security forces, which continues under President William Ruto’s administration.
Human Rights Watch documented “grave rights abuses” by police during 2023 protests, and Amnesty Kenya reported 16 deaths in June 2025 demonstrations, mostly attributed to police action.
Matiang’i, now a private citizen, has not publicly responded to the video’s resurgence. Supporters argue the clip is being weaponised to distract from current government failures, while detractors demand accountability for past and present protest crackdowns.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) called for investigations into historical protest-related deaths, citing the video as evidence of high-level complicity.
As Kenya marks the 35th anniversary of the Saba Saba pro-democracy movement, the video has amplified calls for police reform and respect for constitutional rights.
