The former Interior boss didn't hold back. Neither did his words.
Fred Matiang’i, the once‑feared Interior Cabinet Secretary, has broken his silence — and he’s aiming straight at the top.
From his Karen home on Sunday, April 19, Matiang’i fired a broadside at President William Ruto’s handling of Kenya’s fuel crisis. His target? The much‑publicised Government‑to‑Government (G‑2‑G) fuel deal.
“Don’t frame this as a government‑to‑government arrangement,” Matiang’i said in an exclusive TV interview. “This is about the Ruto administration and how it runs public affairs.”
The backdrop is painful for ordinary Kenyans.
Despite the recent VAT reversal on fuel — from 16 percent back to 8 percent — pump prices remain punishing. Diesel and petrol are still burning holes in household budgets. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) confirmed the tax change, but the relief never arrived at the forecourt.
Matiang’i argues that the G‑2‑G narrative is a smokescreen. For months, the government has defended the deal as a strategic intervention to stabilise supply and pricing. But the former CS insists the real issue is poor management, not a missing middleman.
“This is not about Uganda or any other government,” he added. “It’s about leadership failure right here.”
Ruto’s camp has not yet responded.
But Matiang’i’s attack lands at a sensitive moment. The fuel crisis has already sparked public outrage, with transport costs soaring and inflation biting deeper. The VAT reversal was supposed to ease the pain. Instead, Kenyans are still asking: where is the relief?
By tearing down the G‑2‑G shield, Matiang’i is forcing a harder conversation. Not about deals or diplomats — but about accountability in the presidency itself.
Whether the public buys his framing or not, one thing is clear: Matiang’i is no longer a silent spectator. And his words just turned up the heat on State House.