Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i rose to the glimmering repute immediately he was reassigned to the education sector where he swept major ills as examination cheating monster and brought significant reforms.
In the recent days, Dr Matiang’i has been occupied handling matters security and interior government coordination since the death of Joseph Ole Nkaissery at a time the country was headed into the recently concluded elections.
He came under sharp criticism from the opposition from the moment he was announced to serve in acting capacity just hours after Nkaissery’s death but politicians aligned to the ruling party came to his defense saying the docket was too sensitive to be left hanging at an electioneering period.
These aside, major showdown with the polity emerged when the ministry started outlining security measures they were having in place as the elections neared. Most opposition leaders were against zoning of parts of the country as hotspots as they felt it was a plot to have them subjected to heavy police presence that would intimidate voters.
Several parts of the country were identified as likely to experience post poll violence as poll outcome for various seats could spark angst that could see opposing sides engage in violence. The opposition at the time said the areas were their strongholds accusing the government of having a plot to scare voters and ensure low turnout in the areas they expected more votes than the ruling.
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Then came the elections and voting was peaceful throughout the country and despite the deployment of security personnel, Kenyans turned out in large numbers to cast in favour desired candidates.
The presidential polls outcome results started being shared publicly by the polls body on an online portal showing the incumbent leading throughout and this did not go so well with the opposition.
On the night of the August 8, tension grew and fear of possible clashes spread in some parts of Nairobi and Kisumu as the NASA coalition agents rejected the results projected as unverifiable and termed them as a fraud.
Earlier, a number of Kenyans had vacated urban areas travelling upcountry where some had enlisted as voters while a significant number were suspected to be fleeing possible violence.
Post polls violent protests broke out in Kisumu and Nairobi’s Kibera, Mathare, Dandora and Lucky Summer areas with police facing blames of excessive use of force.
Seral people died during the protests but the CS held that the police could not kill innocent peaceful protestors.
Here, the public disagreed with the Dr Matiang’i as many were angered by images and massages circulating online that people had been killed and he had dismissed these as rumors.
Matiang’i might not get his conversation back to the education sector just after the elections as things are not well at the University of Nairobi.
He has been summoned to appear in court in October following the University councils troules shortly after its appointment.
The new council is said to have held a meeting without involving the university vice chancellor and the CS will appear in court over the matter that has affected the university's operations.