Matiang’i condemns All Saints Cathedral attack, warns Kenya is scaring away investors
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 17, 2026Former Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee’s presidential hopeful Fred Matiang’i has condemned the attack on All Saints Cathedral, accusing the government of failing to act decisively against rising political intolerance and insecurity.
Speaking to journalists in Kiambu while attending a funeral service on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, Matiang’i said the incident was a worrying indicator of a shrinking democratic space in the country.
The former interior cabinet secretary questioned how such an attack could take place in the heart of the nation’s capital and warned that the violence could harm Kenya’s reputation and economic prospects.
“All Saints Cathedral is in the capital city of our country. How can thugs beat people in the capital city of our country? I don’t understand whether our leaders have a sense of shame. It is very humiliating for our country to see those kinds of things we are seeing,” Matiang’i said.
He emphasised that political differences are a normal part of democratic governance and should not be used to justify violence or intimidation.
“Political differences will not end even after the elections next year. We are a democracy; we will always argue and have differences of opinion, but we should manage ourselves responsibly. That is not how to manage a country,” he added.
Matiang’i further argued that incidents of political violence risk undermining investor confidence at a time when the country is seeking to attract more investment and create jobs.
“Now we are scaring away investors. We are scaring people who would want to put resources into our country. How on earth are we going to generate employment if we don’t manage these things?” he posed.
The Jubilee candidate called on leaders across the political divide to uphold democratic values, respect differing opinions, and ensure that political competition remains peaceful and issue-based.
All Saints Cathedral church attack
The attack at All Saints Cathedral happened on June 12, 2026, and disrupted a post-budget dialogue meeting organised by civil society groups. CCTV footage later showed groups of claimed attackers storming the church compound in separate waves before forcing their way into the meeting venue.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has linked the attack to what he called rising cases of “goonism” involving actors across the political divide.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Murkomen said the country remains generally safe and secure but warned that organised violence by groups hired for disruption is becoming a serious security concern.