Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has questioned the rationale behind President William Ruto’s re-election bid, challenging the need for additional time given what he described as a lack of accomplishments.

Speaking on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Matiang’i criticised the administration’s performance and questioned whether Kenyans should extend more time to a government that he claims has failed to deliver.

“Every time they want to be given more time. You know when you are given work and you ask to be given more time to do something. We give them more time to do what? Are we giving them more time for our children to continue staying out of school? Should we give them more time to continue suffering with unga? Should we give them more time to continue taking those farms? Those who don’t have sense. We can’t take those who are taking, those who have sense,” Matiang’i stated.

The former CS directly challenged the justification for seeking another term in office.

“Please, this matter of being told to give them more time, ask them, we give you more time for what? Where do you want more time to do what? Because now there is nothing you are doing. Right now, if we give you more time to do what, so that we continue to suffer, continue to be troubled?” he asked.

Teacher recruitment

Matiang’i turned his attention to what he described as corrupt practices in teacher recruitment, alleging that the process has been centralised in the presidency and based on political connections.

He emphasised that every qualified individual should have the right to apply.

“First, let’s respect ourselves. First, these matters of teacher registration, these political leaders here now understand it has become a matter of shame that teachers are being registered from the office of the president. If you are a friend of that office, you go there, you are given a letter, you go and recruit teachers. Now, if Wanjiku Muya cannot go and recruit teachers, cannot register teachers, she is seen as an enemy or opponent because only one person is registering teachers, one person’s letters are sent to one office, so they can register teachers. I mean, do Kenyans want our country run that way?” he questioned.

Matiang’i emphasised equal opportunity for all qualified Kenyans.

“No. A child from here, Njabini, has the right to apply and go and be registered as a teacher. And these matters of corruption in government, which are known, we understand, we want our national leaders to know this; these are not things we are doing for entertainment. We understand government, and we understand what is happening,” he said.

Teacher insurance crisis

The former CS highlighted a crisis in the teacher insurance scheme, citing union threats to withdraw members over a lack of coverage.

“Teacher unions, today as you have heard here, Hon. Muturi has said, they have said they want to withdraw 400,000 teachers from that SHA matter. The budget for teacher insurance coverage is Ksh17 billion, and the way it was done, those who were given that contract to do it are companies of two big people in this national government. Now, teachers have no insurance, they have no cover, they are struggling, they are not being helped,” Matiang’i stated.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​