MP Peter Kaluma accuses Matiang’i and Natembeya of the River Yala massacre in a sharp warning that has opposition leaders scrambling for answers today. The Homa Bay Town MP stood before the cameras and clearly identified former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya as the individuals he believes were responsible for two of Kenya’s most tragic events in recent years.
Kaluma did not hold back. “Natembeya and Fred Matiang’i were responsible for the horrific River Yala and Baby Pendo incidents,” he said. He went on to predict that the truth would come out soon.
“Soon they will confess, and those who believe they can change this country will be shocked. You will return to President Ruto’s camp ashamed, begging for forgiveness, but by then the door of mercy will have been closed.”
The River Yala case still haunts many families. In 2022, during the height of election protests, bodies turned up floating in the river. Some showed signs of torture. Others had gunshot wounds.
The images shocked the nation and led to calls for independent investigations that never fully satisfied the public. Baby Pendo’s story hit even harder. The little girl died during a police operation in one of the protest hotspots. Her death became a symbol for many who felt the state had gone too far in cracking down on dissent.
Kaluma’s timing feels pointed. He made the remarks just as opposition figures like Rigathi Gachagua and Kalonzo Musyoka push their United Alternative Government tours across the country. The MP seemed to aim his words straight at young supporters who joined those rallies or backed the 2024 protests.
He suggested that anyone still hoping for a different government would soon regret their choice and come crawling back to President Ruto once the full story emerged.
Reactions came fast. On social media, supporters of the opposition called Kaluma’s claims desperate and politically timed. A few accused him of trying to score points ahead of 2027 by dragging up old wounds.
Others from Ruto’s side shared the clip widely, saying it proved the former government had blood on its hands. Some ordinary Kenyans simply sat back and watched the back-and-forth, remembering how both River Yala and baby Pendo left scars that never quite healed.
Kaluma has never been shy with strong statements. He has served as an MP for years and often speaks his mind on issues of justice and accountability. This time he framed his message as a wake-up call.
He told listeners that hiding behind new political alliances would not erase the past. “Those who believe they can change this country will be shocked,” he repeated, almost like a warning shot across the bow of the opposition movement.
The mention of confessions added extra tension. Kaluma did not give a timeline or say how the truth would surface, but his words left the impression that more evidence or witnesses might surface soon. In Kenyan politics, such predictions often spark fresh investigations or at least louder calls for answers.
Families of the River Yala victims and Baby Pendo’s relatives have waited years for full closure. If Kaluma’s words push any new probes forward, they could bring some comfort, though many doubt anything will change quickly.
For now, the focus stays on the immediate fallout. Gachagua’s team has stayed quiet on the remarks, but insiders say they are watching closely. Matiang’i and Natembeya have not responded publicly yet, though allies have started pushing back in private chats and group posts.
The opposition coalition continues its tours, but Kaluma’s speech has added a new layer of suspicion to the conversations happening in villages and towns.
Kenya’s political scene never stays quiet for long. Old wounds like River Yala and Baby Pendo sit just below the surface, ready to reopen whenever someone like Kaluma decides to speak.
His message carries a clear challenge to anyone still fighting the current government: the past will catch up, and when it does, the chance to switch sides might already be gone.
As the country edges closer to 2027, statements like this one keep the fires burning. Supporters on both sides trade accusations while ordinary citizens scroll through their phones and wonder who to believe.
Kaluma has thrown fresh fuel on an already hot debate. Whether it leads to real confessions or simply more political noise remains to be seen, but one thing feels certain – the names River Yala and Baby Pendo are back in the headlines, and Kenyans are paying attention.
