NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept, 9 – All good things must come to an end – Well, in this case, the end of tenure at the helm of the country’s Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government for Dr. Fred Matiang’i, the long-serving Cabinet Secretary at the docket who has also held various ministerial positions as the minister of Lands, ICT and Education ministry.
Matiang’i, one of the president’s men, president Uhuru Kenyatta, has been described as a loyal and dedicated servant to the outgoing head of state, executing his mandate as deemed fit by his boss and as he constantly said, “for the greater good of the Kenyan people.”
On Friday, in a letter addressed to the hierarchy of the country’s security organs, Matiang’i bid farewell to his colleagues saying that serving in the Interior Ministry since 2017 has been exciting and a pleasure particualry working under president Kenyatta.
“It has been five years and a month of an exciting tour of duty and pleasurable service to their beloved country under the great leadership of His excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. Want to thank him for bestowing trust in me. I am humbled by the privilege to serve in the Cabinet in four different Ministries over the entirety of his tenure. I can never thank him enough for this honour,” he said.
Matiang’i became interior Minister following the demise of the late CS Major General Joseph Nkaissery in 2017.
He thanked his colleagues for striving toward improving the welfare of the gallant men and women in uniform as well as other sectors in the multi-agency scope.
“As my tour of duty comes to an end, I exult in the pride of knowing that we have not only honored expectations but exceeded them by important and evident milestones. History will vindicate our legacy. This has been made possible by working closely with you and other highly experienced, competent, and dedicated colleagues in the public service,”
At the ministry, Matiang’i worked closely with his long-serving Principal Secretary, dr Karanja Kibicho as well as two Inspector Generals of Police, Joseph Boinnet and Hillary Mutyambai.
In the correctional service, he also worked with Wycliffe Ogallo and Brigadier (Rtd) John Warioba.
“In their counsel that I often sought, I found a reliable inspiration for important decisions and actions around policy, strategy, and implementation of the same,” said Matiang’i.
The outgoing CS also hailed police officers, members of the National Government Administration Officers, and Public Servants describing them as the unsung heroes who sacrificed their comfort to afford the rest of the country peace.
“It is my personal belief conviction that we have spared no effort to imbue our officers with pride of working for the beloved nation. We must celebrate the fact that out of our efforts, security in our country is at its strongest,“ said Matiang’i.
Matiang’i’s Legacy In the Security Sector
As CS, he has spearheaded several reforms in line with government policies that have no doubt changed the sector. While executing his mandate, Matiang’ii has been labeled as arrogant and even difficult to work with by some, though he has constantly ignored the ‘negativity’ saying that his track record speaks for itself.
In line with improving police welfare, Matiang’i oversaw the construction of a level four, National Police Hospital that will provide specialized services to men and women in uniform alongside their families.
Also, the National police service in the last 10 years is said to have employed 100,000 new officers improving the ratio of police officers to civilians from 1:900 to 1:600.
Amid insecurity challenges across various parts of the country, under his docket, he also oversaw the acquisition of at least 26,0000 new vehicles to help police execute their mandate in ensuring peace and security is upheld.
Still within the National Police Service, Matiang’i, oversaw the implementation of the government directive to have police uniforms and gear such as boots manufactured locally and at an affordable price.
The Persian blue uniform was also unveiled while interior CS despite mixed receptions from Kenyans.
In the fight against terrorism, the CS has been able to harmonize the working relations of various security sect players in ensuring attacks on the Kenyan people and their properties by enemies within and without have been neutralized.
In his quest for peace and security, however, during his tenure as security minister, there were tragic cases of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by state security officers amid mass protests.
Matiang’i has however always distanced himself from such allegations saying that the country’s investigating organs would probe such cases.
Digital Transformation
The government in the last 10 years has implemented a wide ray of reforms that have seen government services digitized while easing and improving access to services for mwananchi.
In the police service, a pilot project was rolled out and expected to be fully operational nationwide, after the Digital OB was unveiled. 10,00 tablets were distributed mainly in Nairobi to enable citizens to make reports to police. This ensures all reports are permanent records and thus can not be edited.
This technology is expected to make service more effective and enable police to deal with cases in real time.
Under his tenure, Kenya also unveiled the revamped e-Passport, which is expected to improve Kenya’s global index of the travel document.
Though the application process for the passport has been streamlined, issuance is said to have stagnated slightly according to some Kenyans.
His last major assignment meanwhile within the security sect included the rolling out of the new generation of digital number plates.
The number plates are expected to ease the operation of security officers who will have access to driver’s details at short notice in the event their vehicle is involved in incidents of crime.
The new plates will cost Sh3000 with the government as the sole manufacturer in what CS Matiang’i said was a measure to control quality and lockout cartels.
Matiang’i said that the government will phase out the old plates within the next 18 months.
Meanwhile, in his farewell letter, he refuted claims that security organs were used to manipulate and interfere with the elections which he termed as the most peaceful in Kenya’s history.
“Despite immense criticism and false accusations of scheming to manipulate and interfere with the General Elections, our sect put up a stellar and professional performance in supporting IEBC to conduct the General Election,” he said.
Finally, he reiterated that the hallmark of the security sector was concisely and loyalty to the government of the day.
Matiang’i will also be remembered for spearheading a wide range of reforms in the Lands Ministry where he laid the foundation for the digitization of land records, the safeguarding of national examinations, and crackdown on exam cheating in the Education Ministry, and also leading the country from the analog to the digital migration in the broadcast space.
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