Fred Matiang’i has let loose a furious attack on President William Ruto, his anger centers on what he calls a growing culture of political thuggery across the country a phenomenon many Kenyans now refer to as goonism.
Speaking in a tone that suggested he had reached the end of his patience Matiang’i did not hold back.
He accused the President of leading the nation toward disaster or he wants us to become another Haiti, Matiang’i fumed.
The comparison to Haiti was deliberate and chilling that Caribbean nation has become a global symbol of state collapse overrun by armed gangs, political chaos and economic ruin.
For Matiang’i that is the direction Kenya is drifting if Ruto continues to tolerate or encourage violent political operatives.
The former minister’s lecture was not abstract theory he was pointing to real incidents hired gangs disrupting opposition events, young men armed with clubs and crude weapons being deployed to intimidate critics and a general sense that the rule of law is being replaced by brute force.
Matiang’i insisted that Kenyans must draw a firm line, we cannot sit quietly while criminals in government uniforms take over our streets he added.
His message was simple either the country rejects this culture now or it pays the price later.
The presidency has not yet responded but Matiang’i’s words have already struck a nerve.