DPP drops charges against former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i

Former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i. [File, Standard]

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) has declined to charge former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and his lawyer Danstan Omari.

Matiang'i appeared before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Tuesday, March 7 for interrogation.

He was under probe by the DCI following the reported police raid at his Karen home in Nairobi on February 9, 2023.

In a press statement dated March 13, the acting DPP Lilian Obuo said the investigating officer had recommended the duo be charged for two offenses but lacked enough evidence to back the claims.

The allegations were that Matiang'i and Omari had conspired to commit a felony and also published false information.

"Upon independent and thorough analysis of the evidence availed and a review of the statements of the witnesses, the Director of Public Prosecutions found that the evidence provided was not sufficient to sustain the above charges against Dr. Fred Okeng'o Matiang'i and his advocate Mr. Danstan Omari," Obuo's statement reads in part.

Then adds "The evidence provided did not meet the ingredients needed to prove each of the afore-mentioned offenses as required by law,"

The DPP has put the matter to rest by directing the DCI to close the inquiry file 'with no further police action'.

The current administration, led by President William Ruto, has on many occasions accused Matiang'i of targeting politicians allied to the Head of State in the run-up to the August 9, 2022, General Election.

On the other hand, some of Kenyatta's lieutenants are claiming that the Ruto administration is out to revenge on the former president's close allies.

Matiang'i served as a cabinet secretary in three different portfolios, including ICT, Education, and Interior dockets, between 2013 and 2022 under former president Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.

He has also acted as Lands CS at one point.