Matiang'i has not fled, his lawyer Danstan Omari says

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i travelled out of the country to attend to personal matters, his lawyer now says.

Matiang'i's lawyer, Danstan Omari, in response to reports that the former CS had "fled the country", said his client travelled to the United Kingdom on February 19 to attend to a private family matter.

"My client travelled on Sunday, February 19, 2023, via KLM (Passenger) Flight KL 566 on a regular private visit to the UK. Those familiar with his travel schedules over time will confirm that he travels regularly to that part of the world via KLM and - as was in this case - very openly, through open public means. There is nothing sinister about his travel. He is there to attend to an urgent private family matter and shall return to resume his ordinary routine as a private citizen," Omari said in a statement on Wednesday, March 1.

He further revealed that Matiang'i is unaware of an ongoing probe into his wealth.

"He is not aware of any investigations on him but reckons that constitutional offices are at liberty to discharge their mandate and that he, too, has the right to due process as a citizen of this country."

According to his lawyer, the former CS is away for two weeks and had notified the necessary security and diplomatic officials of his trip.

On Monday, February 27, the Investigations Bureau (IB) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) wrote to the State Department for Citizen Services seeking Matiang'i's latest travel history.

On Tuesday, the former CS's woes deepened as it emerged that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was investigating him.

The anti-graft agency has written to the Head of Public Service, seeking information on Dr Matiang'i's worth when he took office as Cabinet Secretary in 2013.

"The commission wishes to request for Certified Copies of Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities forms for years 2012 to 2022, including the initial and final declarations," reads EACC's boss Twalib Mbarak's letter.

Last week, the DCI summoned Matiang'i to shed light on an alleged night raid at his Nairobi residence.