Matiang'i: I'm not a dictator, just disciplined

Former Cabinet Secretary and Presidential Aspirant Dr Fred Matiang'i during an interview at the Standard Media Group Headquarters along Mombasa road on october 29, 2025 over the coming 2027 General elections. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims that he ran government ministries with an iron fist, saying his insistence on discipline and adherence to the law was often mistaken for dictatorship.

While appearing on Spice FM on Wednesday, October 29, the presidential aspirant stated that his firm leadership approach was rooted in enforcing existing systems and structures, rather than creating new laws.

“Dictatorship is where you force your way in an environment where there is a systemic and structured framework of doing things. There is nothing that happened in that department or any department that I worked in that was outside the established regulations and systems,” said Matiang’i. 

He added that progress requires sacrifice and discipline, arguing that countries that have succeeded have done so because their leaders and citizens respect the rule of law.

“Things don’t just happen; you have to work for them,” he said. “All these countries that you see moving forward, it’s because they stuck to discipline.”

According to him, his insistence on following the law was what set him apart, not any desire to exert control.

“There is no new law I wrote. I just used the Act and did what it demands. The law was there; we simply said, ‘This is the law, do what it says.’ But because the system before was horribly corrupt and cutting corners, people thought following the law was being dictatorial,” he said, noting that Kenya does not need new legislation to function better, only leadership that leads by example.

“You don’t need a PhD to lead. What you need is integrity. You can’t tell people to stop stealing when you are the chief thief,” he said. “You lead people by example and follow the law.”

Reflecting on his time overseeing security and education dockets, he added: “There is no one who is above the law. What we need is for cases to be investigated,” he said. 

“Crimes such as murder or disappearance are not covered by statutory limitation; no matter how long it takes, you will still be investigated.”

His remarks come as he seeks to redefine his image ahead of the 2027 elections, where perceptions of his past leadership style could shape his political fortunes.