‘Listen to Kenyans,’ Matiang’i tells gov’t over protests, urges restraint from police

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has called on the government to embrace dialogue and heed the cries of citizens protesting across the country, warning that the continued use of force risks pushing Kenya down a dangerous and slippery slope.

Matiang’i, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed solidarity with the thousands of young people who took to the streets in towns and cities across Kenya to mark one year since the tragic events of June 25, 2024, when Gen Z-led protests turned deadly.

He appealed to the state not to ignore the calls for justice and reform and asked security agencies to avoid using violence against peaceful demonstrators.

“I urge the government not to harden its heart but to genuinely listen to the citizens’ cry for justice and reform. I also make a heartfelt plea to our security officers: please do not turn your weapons on your fellow citizens, exercise restraint and sobriety. Do not meet peaceful protests with force,” he warned.

“Use of force by the authorities will only deepen the crisis and push the country down a dangerous and slippery slope.”

He added, “These young active citizens were exercising their protected right to petition the authorities. I fully associate myself with the sentiments that they expressed.”

The 2027 presidential hopeful noted that last year’s protests stemmed from frustrations over the Finance Bill 2024, punitive tax policies, reduced funding to public universities, mismanagement of public resources, and broader governance issues.

He emphasised the need for national unity and reflection, calling on Kenyans to come together beyond political lines and generational divides.

“Regardless of our political affiliations or the divides that exist among us, this is a time to pull together and reflect deeply on the foundations of our nation,” he said.

“We must come together across party lines and generations, to fix what is broken and build a future that is just, accountable, and inclusive.”

The former CS also extended condolences to families who have lost loved ones over the past year under what he described as “tragic and unfortunate circumstances.”

His remarks come amid growing criticism of the government’s handling of the ongoing June 25, 2025, protests, where several people have been injured and others killed.

The Communications Authority had issued a controversial order directing media houses to stop live coverage—an order the Kenya Editors’ Guild and the Law Society of Kenya have both termed unconstitutional and defiant of court rulings.