Matiang'i 'Sneaks Out' of the Country Amid Pursuit by Gov’t Agencies

It has emerged that former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i left the country days before he was summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for questioning.

Matiang’i departed on February 19th through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), according to the Director General for the State Department for Citizen Services Emmanuel Simiyu.

“Passport number BK276318 was issued to Dr. Okengo Matiang’i on January 12, 2022. He is also a holder of Diplomatic passport number DK0067. The subject departed on 19 February through JKIA on KLM flight number 566,” Simiyu said in a letter to the DCI dated February 28th.

Simiyu’s letter was in reference to a letter by the Investigations Bureau (IB) of the DCI seeking the latest travel history of Matiang’i.

On February 23rd, the DCI summoned Matiang’i over the alleged police raid of his Karen home on February 9th. He was required to appear at the DCI headquarters at 9.30 am on February 24th for questioning.

Senior Superintendent of Police Michael Sang said the agency is investigating allegations of publication of false information contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2018, among other offenses in regard to the alleged raid of his home.

“I have reasons to believe that you, Dr. Fred Matiangi, the former Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Co-ordination, is connected to the offense or has information which can assist me in my investigations,” reads the summon from Sang, who is attached to the Special Crime Unit.

Sang warned Matiang’i that failure to present himself at the DCI headquarters amounts to committing an offense liable to prosecution.

Last week, the court extended orders barring the police from harassing or arresting Matiang’i. Justice Justus Bwonwong’a extended the anticipatory bail granted by Justice Kanyi Kimondo on February 9th.