Matiang’i blames politics for fuelling Kenya’s corruption crisis
By Cy Muganda, December 23, 2025Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has blamed political interference for undermining Kenya’s anti-corruption agencies, arguing that the country has sufficient laws and institutions to fight graft but lacks the political will to implement them.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Monday, December 22, 2025, Matiang’i dismissed suggestions that Kenya needs new laws or institutions to combat corruption, insisting that existing frameworks are being weakened by political meddling.
“Those existing institutions are being weakened and greatly troubled by political matters. Our only problem in this country is the politics we practice. Let’s just tell the truth,” Matiang’i stated.
Political interference claims
According to the former CS, leaders of anti-corruption agencies have the capacity and will to execute their mandates but face constant interference from political leaders.
“Leaders of these institutions indeed work and have the intention to execute their duties, although they are troubled by political leaders who pressure them, saying this one should not be investigated, this one should not be taken to court,” he explained.
Matiang’i emphasised that Kenya’s fundamental problem is not a lack of legal frameworks or institutions but rather the manner in which politics is conducted.
“Our problem is how we practice politics. It’s not that we don’t have enough institutions. We don’t have enough laws. No, and I want to say at this time as we discuss these matters, even in my campaign I have not said that if I’m elected I will write new laws to fight corruption,” he said.
Adequate frameworks exist
The former Interior CS further argued that creating new institutions or laws would be a waste of time and public resources.
“I have not said I will establish a new institution or form a special committee to do these things (if I get elected). It’s a waste of time and a waste of public money. We have enough institutions. We have enough laws,” Matiang’i stated.
He identified the core challenge as implementation rather than legislation.
“Our problem is the implementation of those laws, government projects, and respecting those government institutions that exist to fight corruption, crime and all other matters,” he said.
“Interfering with these institutions and troubling the leaders of these institutions and weakening these institutions through bad politics, that is the problem we have. That’s why we say we want to change the country’s leadership. It’s not that we don’t have enough laws,” he added.