I’ve Received Threats and I’m Ready to Die, Matiang’i Declares

I’ve Received Threats and I’m Ready to Die, Matiang’i Declares

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i says he's received threats over his vicious crackdown on contraband goods imported into the country.

Speaking at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) headquarters along Kiambu Road in Nairobi, Matiang'i vowed he's ready to die if that's what it takes to safeguard Kenyans.

Matiang'i was addressing the smuggling of poisonous sugar into the country by cartels. He said the recently impounded contraband sugar was found to be unfit for human consumption as it contained traces of mercury and copper.

“I am not under any illusion that we engaged in a very serious war. A war that could be means anything; it could mean even the lives of these officers and some of us,” Matiangi told reporters.

“It is a complex war that may not spare the detectives involved in the ongoing crackdown.”

He noted that officers involved in the crackdown have been receiving phone calls warning of serious consequences if they don't halt the operation and release the seized contraband goods.

“The people who gave up their lives for this country to be independent did not lose their blood in vein so that we get ourselves where we are today, where we have people in our midst who are selling poison and sabotaging our economy,” Matiangi said, and assured security agents of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support in their work.

“You now know who to call, (President) Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.

Last week, several tonnes of the poisonous sugar was nabbed in a godown in Nairobi's Eastleigh area, with tests by government chemist confirming presence of mercury and copper traces.

"Some of the impurities in the sugar can be cancerous,” Matiangi said, and vowed not to be shaken.

“I want to be frank with the people of Kenya that we have to change the way we live. We are not going to be polite about this,” he said of what he termed as “a white-collar job.”

“It is shocking when you look at some of the things we have discovered. It is shocking what we are doing to ourselves and to the country."

“The level of criminality involved is mind-boggling, that there are people in our country who make money by selling goods they know for sure are poisonous,” he said.

 

Comments

Anonymous UI (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 08:35am

Thank you Matiang'i. Continue with your job. Protect Kenyans, we are with you.!! Kenyans should abandon processed sugar altogether and items that contain processed sugar. God help Kenya!!!

Sokwe (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 08:47am

Bravo Matiangi. You deserve my vote for President. Contaminations like the one in the sugar is part of the sources of the cancer epidemic engulfing the country. Only God knows how many lives your action will save. Cartels are full of cowards. That is why they live in the shadows.

Wanjambi (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 09:41am

Matiang'i needs and deserves the support from everybody and every government sector. Ranging from security, financial and prayers. He has proved that the office of a minister is not a political office. The other ministers are still stack in political euphoria receiving or accompanying the President to political functions. And doing very little or nothing for the people of Kenya.

Mosbei (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 10:42am

Fight it Hard Mr Matiangi,,, all will be well and be brave enough coz others we have no opportunity but we pray God that corruption in our country caused by cartels will one day come to an end

Jackson (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 11:49am

In reply to by Isaiah Cheruiyot (not verified)

Pongezi sana, I wish the cabinet had just four more like cs,Dr Matiangi, we will really grow. God always protect honest and hardworking people. I will pray for you. May God bless you

Mugikuyu (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 02:11pm

Mating'i you are a God send, no wonder you are in the interior docket at a time when we need you the most to protect the health of our nation.

Joe Kamande (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 02:13pm

Fight it on. Keep fighting. You will finally win. Kenyans are behind you. God is also on your side. Victory is yours in Jesus’s name.

Joe Kamande (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 02:28pm

Fight it on. Keep fighting. You will finally win. Kenyans are behind you. God is also on your side. Victory is yours in Jesus’s name.

Anos (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 02:37pm

I hope that when we say God will protect Matiangi, we really mean we the human Kenyans will really rally behind him and demand that his safety be sacrosanct. It is our collective responsibility to protect Matiangi and not hope that by deferring that responsibility to a deity is enough...

Evans Ondieki (not verified)     Thu, 06/14/2018 @ 05:32pm

if matiang'i can get threatened by his stun actions on contraband goods, what about junior officers under the so people (with superior orders) mentioned by him !? as a staunch Christian you are, with our prayers, you will conquer them! let no one sabotage the security and economy of our beloved country Kenya.

King David Ogwela (not verified)     Fri, 06/15/2018 @ 12:39am

It's so sad. Fight for us. I barely understand how a normal person makes money at the detriment of people's lives.
This to me, is tantamount to terrorism; those people are more dangerous than Alshabaab.

King David Ogwela (not verified)     Fri, 06/15/2018 @ 12:40am

It's so sad. Fight for us. I barely understand how a normal person makes money at the detriment of people's lives.
This to me, is tantamount to terrorism; those people are more dangerous than Alshabaab.

Mato (not verified)     Fri, 06/15/2018 @ 03:04am

This is akind of war I could have fearlessly fought If I were in Matiangi's position regard less of what so called cartelss say.As patriots We cannot leave in fear leaving room for silly destruction of humankind.Bravo Matiangi with JAH blessing

Duke (not verified)     Sat, 06/16/2018 @ 09:41am

congrats Mr.Matiangi,do not be shaken as our lives lie in the hands of our Creator Who is always with our Blessed Country Kenya.My Prayer is ,the Almighty God to Empower u with every kind of KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM to the success of the Battle of saving many Kenyans and to Protect u from all Evil Men who are after their own stomachs

Joe Kamande (not verified)     Sat, 06/16/2018 @ 01:35pm

Matiangi: You are our Joshua. Take us to Canaan. Fight the good fight even if it means losing a leg. It’s worth it.

Douglas Wamburu (not verified)     Sat, 06/16/2018 @ 11:39pm

We cannot afford to think whose docket it is when poisonous sugar is out there. Matiang’i is right

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