Kennedy Kaunda, the matatu sector official who went viral for openly confronting Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi during a live press briefing, has revealed that the incident left him shaken and unable to sleep.
Kaunda attracted national attention after interrupting a briefing attended by Wandayi and Transport CS Davis Chirchir, insisting that no agreement had been reached between the government and matatu operators over the controversial fuel issues.
While the Cabinet secretaries maintained that progress had been made, Kaunda firmly stated that the strike would continue until the concerns raised by operators were fully addressed.
His bold remarks quickly spread across social media platforms, with many Kenyans praising him for speaking candidly in front of senior government officials. The confrontation also earned him the nickname “with all due respect” man, a phrase he repeatedly used during the tense exchange.
However, speaking after the incident, Kaunda admitted that the attention that followed caught him off guard. He said he had received several phone calls from people criticising his conduct and accusing him of embarrassing certain institutions.
“I did not sleep that night. Calls were coming in from different people saying I had embarrassed some institutions and that I was a disgrace. But I was only speaking on behalf of ordinary Kenyans who are also affected by the rising fuel costs,” he said.
Kaunda maintained that his actions were not driven by politics or personal interests, but by the struggles facing millions of Kenyans dealing with the increasing cost of living.
Despite admitting that he is fearful after the backlash, the outspoken official insisted he has no regrets about speaking his mind during the briefing.
“Of course I am scared, but this is my country and I cannot hide from reality. What we are fighting for affects every Kenyan, not just matatu operators,” he added.
His remarks have continued to spark debate online, with some Kenyans hailing him as courageous while others criticised the manner in which he addressed the Cabinet secretaries.