Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has opened up about a deeply personal conversation he had with the late Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 General Election, one that changed the course of his political journey.

Speaking during a live TV interview hosted by a local television station on Friday, October 17, 2025, Matiang’i revealed that he had seriously considered running for president in 2022, but Raila’s counsel made him rethink his plans.

The former CS described the encounter as a moment of mentorship and genuine patriotism from a man he regarded as a father and a true statesman.

“I had a personal engagement with Baba. I was considering running for the presidency in 2022, and I took counsel from him,” Matiang’i said.

According to Matiang’i, Raila’s advice was delivered with honesty and warmth, not as a political lecture, but as guidance from someone who genuinely cared about Kenya’s future.

“I wasn’t ready then, the role I was taking in government was very serious, you know, gives you one thing and takes it in the other hand,” Matiang’i recalled.

The former CS described Raila as a man who always put the country before politics, saying he was unlike any other opposition leader he had ever met.

“He was very patriotic. Raila would always talk to you about Kenya first, not about tribes or personal gains. That was one of his greatest lessons to me,” he added.

Matiang’i said Raila’s mentorship shaped his view of leadership, teaching him that service and humility go hand in hand. “He always reminded us that leadership is not about power, but about people. That lesson will stay with me forever,” he said.

As Kenya prepares to mark Mashujaa Day later this month, Matiang’i described Raila as one of the true heroes of the nation, a man who sacrificed, guided, and inspired generations of leaders to serve Kenya above self.