Residents of Kisii in hundreds, have poured into the streets to plead with the government to spare former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi from arrest.
Chanting ‘No Matiangi No Peace’ the protesters, majority of them market women , asked President William Ruto to forgive the former powerful minister in the Uhuru government.
They, instead, told Ruto to focus on service delivery and leave the bygones be bygones during the Tuesday evening protests.
Other however insisted that the process of arresting him and arraigning him should be transparent and free from witchunt and vendetta.
“But if he did any mistake let the law take its own course but in an open and unbiased manner,” said Lydia Kerubo, a trader.
Ward Reps John Ombati (Bomorenda) and Barongo Bagaka (Masige West) and also Deputy Speaker decried the ignominious manner in which the government was handling Matiangi.
They said the former CS, with his stature, deserves some respect having served ‘diligently’ in the former government.
” As the community we stand with him, he did fairly well more than any other peer in government during his time. We are proud of him, he is our son, let nobody victimize him,” stated Bagaka.
He said Matiangi would walk with the community behind him in his troubles.
” He is not alone and will never be made to feel he is walking alone in this. We are all behind him, “the Deputy Speaker said.
Ombati, on his part, said they join other leaders agitated by the string of summons to DCI for Matiangi.
He said if Kenya has criminals then there are more bigger than than Matiangi who need to be prosecuted.
“It is all about misplaced priority, let the security apparatus direct their effort elsewhere and stop parading our son in DCI offices as a common criminal,” said Ombati.
The protesters filtered out the market stalls into the Capital Round About before walking to Kisii County Assembly gate, that of the. County Commissioner before dispersing outside the governors office outside the stadium.
Both the governor and the county commissioner were not in when the protesters visited them.
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