Raila Rebukes Interior CS Fred Matiang'i over His Attacks on the Judiciary

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has condemned Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i over his Tuesday attacks on the judiciary.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on Tuesday, Matiang’i, who was accompanied by Immigration Principal Secretary Gordon Kihalangwa and Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet, claimed that a "clique" of judges had been captured by civil society and activist lawyers in a bid to humiliate the Executive.

“This isn’t about the Judiciary. It is about a clique of judicial officers who have gotten into unholy relationship with activist lawyers, the Opposition and civil society; with the intention of humiliating and stalling the government; making it impossible for the State to perform its work,” Matiang’i said.

However, in a statement dispatched to newsrooms on Wednesday, Odinga described the remarks by the Interior CS as “virulent”.

“In our Statement to the Nation, President Kenyatta and I urged every leader and every Kenyan to embrace the responsibilities they know to be theirs and help the nation reconcile and make progress. Dr. Matiang’i failed terribly in this yesterday,” said Odinga.

He added: “It is unethical and irresponsible for a Cabinet Secretary to publicly denigrate another arm of government and to refer to judges as “evil.” It is irresponsible to castigate one’s predecessors in office particularly when they are dead and not there to defend themselves.”

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader further asked MPs not to allow themselves to be used as an avenue through which state officers make unwarranted attacks against other arms of government.

Odinga also castigated Matiang'i for accusing his predecessors including ex-Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang, now deceased, of mismanaging things at the Ministry.

“If the CS feels that his predecessors in office did not carry out their work in a way that is satisfactory, he is the Cabinet Secretary now. He should correct what he believes is a mistake and change the processes of the Ministry so that those mistakes do not compromise the State. But he should not treat Kenyans to the drama that he played out yesterday before members of the National Assembly,” he stated.

Matiang'i, who had been summoned to explain last week deportation of firebrand lawyer Miguna Miguna, claimed that he [Miguna], fraudulently acquired his confiscated passport and ID with the help of Kajwang.

“We have just come from the longest, most dramatic political period in Kenya’s history. Every leader should know that and should behave and talk in ways that will help Kenyans re-focus on the problems we have in a sober and rational manner rather than worsen them. The politics and leadership of chest-thumping, fear mongering, hate and division must end in Kenya," Odinga said.