Matiang’i Faces Major Hurdle In Quest For Presidency
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i may not run for president in 2027, after Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo threatened legal action against him.
On Thursday, July 3, the MP accused Matiang’i of directing a reign of terror that resulted in the dumping of dozens of tortured bodies into the River Yala between 2021 and 2022, rendering him ineligible for the presidency.
In a press statement, the MP announced plans to launch legal actions to hold Matiang’i personally responsible for the unlawful killings.
“Being an MP for Gem Constituency, I have been deeply perturbed by the arrogance and contempt with which the former Interior CS Dr Fred Matiang’i treated the questions in his role as CS in the dumping of bodies into River Yala in Gem Constituency in the run up to the 2022 General Elections,” the statement read in part.
“Matiang’i was the CS in charge of internal security, and cannot therefore escape accountability,” the statement continued.
“The families of all those who were brutally murdered and dumped in River Yala are yet to get justice as he is walking free without any answer to these very chilling occurrences that took place under his watch.”
ODM MPs George Aladwa (Makadara), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Dick Maungu (Luanda) have accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of promoting tribalism and risking ethnic unrest.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) July 3, 2025
They have also criticised blogger Ndiang’ui Kinyagia over his reappearance from what they… pic.twitter.com/ulN3Bm8NVT
The River Yala tragedy was brought to light between July 2021 and January 2022 when human rights organizations, notably Amnesty International, reported the retrieval of nearly 400 victims with signs of torture, strangulation, and gunshot wounds.
According to Odhiambo, Matiang’i was the then-Interior CS, and no arrests have been made, demonstrating ineptitude on his part, and his inability to act or explain constitutes criminal negligence.
Already, the MP has stated that efforts are ongoing, including a petition to prevent Matiang’i from running in the 2027 general election.
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Other routes for accountability that the MP is considering include recalling him to Parliament and calling for a public inquiry.
“Further, we are considering putting pressure on the office of the DPP to institute mass murder charges against Matiang’i and all those who worked with him during that particular period, including the members of the SSU police unit that was disbanded by President William Ruto,” the statement by the MP continued.
On his part, Matiang’i, who recently announced interest in the country’s top seat, denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking during a recent interview on Citizen TV, Matiang’i called for a public inquest and insisted that investigations were ongoing when he left office.
“I didn’t leave with the file. It was a police matter. I’m ready to testify before a judge and say what I know,” he said.
Matiang’i Faces Major Hurdle In Quest For Presidency
