Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi will not attend today’s anti-government protest rally in Kisii County as he has put his awaited entry into politics on ice following a heavy crackdown by the government against him.
Matiangi, the presumed Abagusii political kingpin, will be in Nairobi as Kisii Governor Simba Arati hosts the Azimio brigade led by Raila Odinga in Kisii and Keroka.
The event has stirred up mixed reactions among the region’s political leaders, with some opposing the rally’s location and purpose. The rally was initially slated for Monday but was postponed due to disagreements among the leaders.
Ongwae regretted that the same leaders planning protests and rallies in Kisii had organised their regions to receive the president warmly and even benefitted from his ‘generosity’.
“I plead with our leaders not to accept any shenanigans meant to paint our region as rebellious and disadvantage it from the much-planned development projects by President Ruto,” Ongwae said.
“Previously and in the last few months, president Ruto has visited various regions and initiated several development projects, lately being a visit to Luo Nyanza, and in some instances some of us were present and we witnessed the president’s generosity,” Ongwae said.
Ruto is supposed to visit the Kisii region for a homecoming ceremony for Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu later in the month.
