Former Interior Cabinet Secretary and presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has vowed to rebuild trust, unite the country, and steer it away from the current wave of economic and political instability.
Speaking on a local TV station on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Matiang’i said Kenya is hurting and in urgent need of honest, hardworking leadership that brings people together. He said the country does not need a leader who acts like a saviour, but one who understands the challenges and works with citizens to overcome them.
He promised to restore Kenya by rebuilding public trust, restoring dignity to leadership, and guiding the country back to a path of hope and prosperity. According to him, the level of frustration and pain Kenyans are experiencing is unlike anything he has seen before, despite the country’s rich resources and potential.
Matiang’i said he understands Kenya deeply, its people, its struggles, and its promise. He believes that through collective effort, the country can rise again.
“Kenya does not need an all-knowing saviour or ruler. It needs a hardworking, honest, consensus builder to mobilise the country and create a level of trust in the people of Kenya to invest their energy in moving the country to the next level. I would like to make that contribution,” Matiang’i stated.
Adding;
“The level of pain and misery that we have seen in the country is surprising considering our resources and capacity. The anger and pain that wananchi have is unprecedented; I’ve not seen that before. I happen to know this country like the back of my hand, and I know for sure what this country is capable of; we are better than this.”
On Sunday, June 29, 2025, addressing residents of Thika Town after attending a church service at PCEA Thika, he warned that Kenya is heading in the wrong direction and urged politicians to stop focusing on elections, which are still 28 months away. Instead, he called on leaders to prioritise the survival and stability of the nation.
He described this as a patriotic moment that demands unity, not politics. Matiang’i stressed that the focus now should be on fixing the economy, addressing the needs of ordinary citizens, and creating a safe, stable environment for future generations.
He also said that acknowledging mistakes and speaking honestly about national challenges is not a sign of weakness, it’s leadership. According to him, leaders must be open about what’s not working so that Kenyans can reason together and find a way forward.
