Former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has criticised the government over corruption and unfair teacher recruitment.

Matiangi was speaking Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu’s Njabini Parish in Kinangop Constituency, Nyandarua County.

Matiang’i addressed local residents frustrated with education and public service issues. He focused on two main problems: politicised teacher recruitment and mismanagement of public funds, including insurance schemes for teachers and police.

“I would like to discuss these two issues. The first is teacher hiring. These political leaders here understand. It has become shameful that teachers are hired from the president’s office. If you are a friend of that office, you go there, get a letter, and hire teachers. A child from here in Jabini has the right to apply and be hired as a teacher,” Matiang’i said.

He argued that these practices deny qualified candidates fair opportunities. Reports from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) indicate Kenya employs about 415,000 public teachers, but claims of favouritism persist.

Matiang’i also echoed concerns from his December 2025 speech, where he stated that teachers are being hired by MCAs or some people who don’t even have formal roles in this society. He blamed the current administration, which took power after the 2022 elections, for the chaotic system.

Corruption in teacher insurance

The former CS then turned to corruption in government contracts, particularly health insurance. He criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) in 2023 as part of Universal Health Coverage reforms.

“And these issues of corruption in a government that is well-known for it. We want our national leaders to know this: we understand the government and we know what is happening. You have heard they want to withdraw 400,000 teachers from those SHA matters,” Matiang’i said.

“If you look at the budget line, the insurance cover for teachers is 17 billion. And the way it was done, those given the contract are companies of two bigwigs in this government. Now teachers have no insurance, no cover, they are suffering and not helped.”

In 2024, TSC’s medical insurance contract with private firm Minet was worth around 17 billion shillings, but unions complained of poor services. By December 2025, TSC moved over 400,000 teachers to SHA’s Public Officers’ Medical Scheme Fund amid disputes. A November 2025 report noted some teachers feared reduced coverage.

Matiang’i compared this with his time in office.

“When we left the government in late 2022, the insurance cover for police was 5.3 billion; we had planned things well. In two weeks or three weeks, the tender had been given to a certain insurance company. Go and check whose it is,” he said.

Auditor General reports from 2023 confirm issues with police insurance. After the 2022 elections, NHIF awarded tenders for group personal accident and work injury benefits worth billions to some firms.

By 2023, unpaid premiums reached 17.9 billion, risking coverage for 120,000 officers. In January 2026, Parliament probed delays in 220 million shillings owed to fallen officers’ families.

Matiang’i urged Kenyans to demand accountability and reforms.