Former Interior minister Fred Matiang’i is in the United Kingdom, attending to an urgent, private family matter, his lawyers said Wednesday amid questions regarding his whereabouts and investigations by the police and anti-corruption agents.
Dr Matiang’i’s whereabouts were Tuesday night unclear following revelations he left the country on February 19 — four days before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced summons for him to appear for questioning.
It emerged the DCI had asked for the ex-minister’s travel history on the same day the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened a lifestyle audit on the former powerful minister in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Dr Matiang’i issued clarifications on Wednesday, denying reports that he fled the country as the State closes in on him to shed light on a number of issues when he occupied the powerful seat.
In a press release, his lawyer Danstan Omari said he will return to Kenya and carry on with his routine as a private citizen.
“My client travelled on Sunday, February 19, 2023 via KLM (Passenger) Flight KL 566 on a regular private visit to the UK. Those familiar with his travel schedules over time will confirm that he travels regularly to that part of the world via KLM and, as was in this case, very openly, through open public means,” said Mr Omari.
‘Security officials aware’
There were suggestions that the former powerful minister had fled the country to escape possible arrest by the authorities.
Having been the face of the former administration, that opposed the ascension of the Kenya Kwanza regime to power, operatives in the government of President William Ruto have vowed to teach Dr Matiang’i a lesson.
The ex-minister said he notified senior government officials in the security sector of his travel plans beforehand.
“Owing to his immediate role in the security sector and his status, I have instructions that my client informally notified senior security sector and diplomatic officials about his two-week trip to the UK. It is therefore unfair to cast aspersions on his movement,” said Mr Omari.
He said he had noted, “with concern, the unfair and unfortunate aspersions in various media reports” on his private travel, as well as reported correspondence between constitutional offices on matters that are well within their mandate.
Mr Omari urged that those mandates be exercised with due regard to the rights of every citizen, including himself.
He further asked the media to exercise careful judgement while reporting on communications that are intentionally leaked to achieve certain objectives.
“Furthermore, and as you may all recall, our Constitution protects court proceedings from extraneous and prejudicial media reports on matters before them, primarily because in our democratic society, such reports defeat the realisation of justice. The aspersions created in the reports and clearly stage-managed wars are evidently driven by inexplicable vendetta and malice.”
Mr Omari also said the former CS, “is not aware of any investigations on him but reckons that constitutional offices are at liberty to discharge their mandate; and that he, too, has the right to due process as a citizen of this country”.
Leaked letter
On Tuesday, a leaked letter addressed to the DCI showed Dr Matiang’i’s latest travel history.
The letter by the State Department for Citizen Services was in response to an inquiry by the DCI on February 27, asking for Dr Matiang’i’s latest travel history.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has also opened a lifestyle audit on the former CS, who appears to be on the list of wanted powerful individuals.
The EACC has written to the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, seeking information on the former minister’s declared wealth.
In the letter dated February 27, EACC chief executive Twalib Mbarak informed Mr Koskei that the commission was conducting investigations involving Dr Matiang’i.
“Pursuant to Section 30(1) (4) (b) of the Public Officers Ethics Act, the commission wishes to request for Certified Copies of Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities forms for years 2012 to 2022, including the initial and final declarations,” the letter said.
The EACC boss has also asked EACC detectives identified as Abdul Low and Paul Mugwe to collect the documents from Mr Koskei’s office at Harambee House.
The former CS had been summoned to the DCI headquarters five days ago, ostensibly to assist in investigations pertaining the alleged raid by police at his Nairobi home.
The government, through its various agencies, denied claims that police offices stormed his house at night.
However, police raided the house later, breaking into every room, reportedly seeking CCTV footage.
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