Matiang’i claims Ruto wanted Natembeya forcefully sacked
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has dismissed Deputy President William Ruto's claims on alleged meetings held by officials to plan and incite violence in the Rift valley region.
Speaking during a media briefing on Friday, August 5, 2022, the CS queried why the DP had not raised the issue to the relevant authorities in charge, reassuring Kenyans that all measures had been set to beef up security during and after the electioneering process.
"Ignore these pent-up frustrations that are being vent on security officials and chiefs. We are just on the receiving end of some people's frustration, disappointment and unnecessary anger," the CS stated.
He further detailed how his ministry was under pressure while working under the DP stating that he (Ruto) forcefully wanted to sack Rift valley regional commissioner George Natembeya.
While accusing the DP of double talk, the CS noted that Ruto wanted to unreasonably fire all regional commissioners appointed during his tenure.
"For the time I have been at the ministry of Interior I can say this publicly, he likes to quote God and God is seeing all of us talking here. The pressure under which we have come before to even sack Natembeya for example,
"I have not seen a regional commissioner that the DP did not want sacked. We came under intense pressure to fire Natembeya even as county commissioner in Narok, then as regional commissioner in Rift valley from him, insisting he must be fired even without proving reasons why we should fire him," the CS added.
Ruto alleges that Rift valley regional commissioner is plotting chaos
Matiangi's response comes as a rejoinder to Ruto's claims that the Rift valley regional commissioner Maalim Mohamed was planning chaos during the electioneering period.
The DP who was speaking during a press release alleged that the Rift valley RC was soliciting help from the Trans Nzoia, Nakuru and Uasin gishu commissioners to plot election violence.
"The regional commissioner of Rift valley, Maalim Mohamed, the county commissioners Samson Ojwang of Trans Nzoia and Stephen Kihara of Uasin Gishu and Erastus Mbui of Nakury are part of this scheme. They are people holding night meetings to plan conflict amongst Kenyans," Ruto said.
