Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has
said he would lead Kenya with fairness and discipline if given the opportunity
to become president.
Speaking during an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday,
Matiang’i reflected on his tenure in the Ministry of Education, where he
spearheaded reforms to restore integrity in examinations.
He said his experiences during that period shaped his belief
that fairness and discipline are key to national progress.
“We must create an environment that gives everyone a fair
opportunity, a fair shot at what they are doing, so that people get the grades
they genuinely deserve,” he said.
“Educationists will tell you exams are about testing and
measurement, to see whether the right skills have been acquired and whether one
can move to another level.”
Matiang’i recalled a case in 2015 when an entire first-year
engineering class in a state university failed because of the ripple effects of
exam cheating at the secondary school level.
“The professors refused to move those students to the second
year,” he said.
“They had been admitted based on inflated grades, but once
in university, they couldn’t cope. That’s how deep the decay had gone.”
The former CS said his push for exam integrity was not an
act of harshness, but an effort to uphold fairness and protect the credibility
of the country’s education system.
“If that is a hard hand, I would like to apply the same in
public life,” he said.
“Discipline is destiny. We cannot move forward where
everything goes, where people don’t do what they are supposed to do.”
Matiang’i emphasised that discipline and fairness must guide
both individual and national conduct, adding that the same principles that
reformed the education sector could transform public governance.
“I believe in fairness, in everybody doing what they are
supposed to do,” he said.
“If we lived that
way, we would be happy, we would be fine, and the society would move forward.”
Reflecting on his time in government, Matiang’i said the
results achieved during his tenure as Education and Interior CS showed the
value of structure and accountability.
“That was my experience at Jogoo House, and it is what I
would like to see in government if I am so blessed and lucky to be given the
opportunity by the people of Kenya,” he added.
Earlier in October, Matiang’i revealed publicly that he has
joined the Jubilee Party of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, and he will be using
the Red Party to contest the forthcoming presidential polls.
