Be humble, I interviewed you, Ruto tells Matiang'i

Deputy President William Ruto has warned Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i against misusing power through security agencies, saying it is temporary.

Ruto who spoke on Friday at his Karen official residence during a meeting with a delegation from Nakuru county said President Uhuru Kenyatta and him gave Matiang’i the Cabinet slot.

"I sat down with the President to interview Matiang’i in the government the President and I formed. His only problem is some short lived arrogance that he has acquired and is spiteful. He needs to stop it,” the DP told the gathering in what appeared to be reminding the CS that were it not for them, he would not be holding the position.

The DP and Mating’i have had several public spats since the President elevated him to chair the committee on the implementation of government projects in January 2019.

The role was initially played by the DP. Uhuru and Ruto are not seeing eye-to-eye, and the latest revelations could widen the cracks.

The DP and his allies have previously accused the Ministry of Interior of frustrating his activities, including directing regional and county commissioners, police commanders among other senior government officials not to attend Ruto’s functions.

The latest fall out between DP and Matiang’i is the withdrawal of elite General Service Unit officers that have been guarding Ruto and his properties.

Matiang’i, on Wednesday while appearing before the Committee on National Security in the National Assembly, revealed properties owned by the DP sparking outrage from Ruto and his allies who termed it  reckless.

Ruto has since said only 70 per cent of the listed properties belong to him.

Last month, Ruto associate and Turkish businessman Harun Aydin was arrested and deported.

“Our security agents flagged him for traveling around the region, they noticed that he was keeping company of people with reports of money laundering,” Matiang'i said.

Aydin, who was part of the team in Ruto’s failed trip to Uganda, was arrested by officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and detained for questioning.

It is understood Ruto’s trip to Uganda was stopped on the instructions from the Office of the President which said the DP should not be cleared by the immigration officers until he gets clearance from the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.

Matiang’i has repeatedly defended his actions saying he is not discharging his duties to please people but for the interest of the nation.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech told Matiang’i to borrow a leaf from his predecessors, saying they have all been humbled by life once they are out of office.

Speaking to the Star on the phone, Koech said it is only a matter of time before the Jubilee regime comes to an end.

“Matiang’i has misused the power that comes with his office to harass the Deputy President and his friends. No problem, he should be made aware that power is temporary. Several other Cabinet Ministers have come and gone. No one talks about them and the same awaits those in power now,” he said.

He added, “We hope Matiang’i and his masters too are ready to undergo such a lifestyle audit they subjected the DP. The Holy Bible says do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

But in a clear show of confidence, Uhuru on Thursday dispatched the powerful CS to Zambia to meet newly sworn in President Hakainde Hichilema.

A statement from OP said Matiang’i flew to Lusaka to convey Uhuru’s entreaties to Hichilema to support Kenya’s candidate for the post of the Secretary General for the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Kenya is fronting Defence Cabinet Secretary Dr. Monica Juma for the influential office of an organisation that brings together the United Kingdom and 53 Countries that were formerly British colonies. Besides the UK, notable members of the Commonwealth are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Nigeria, India, Malaysia, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania among others,” the statement said.

Edited by CM