On Tuesday, February 28, it was widely reported that former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i had fled the country.
This appeared that the former powerful CS was being sought by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over a raid at his Karen home on February 15.
“The passport number was issued to Okengo Matiangi on January 12, 2022. He is also a holder of a diplomatic passport.”He departed on February 19, 2023, through JKIA on KLM flight number KL 566,” the immigration office revealed.
As such, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei is now calling for the immediate repatriation of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
“Administrative action should be taken and the immediate repatriation of Matiang’i back to Kenya to face the law/music!” Cherargei said in a Tweet.
Cherargei, a close ally of Kenya’s President William Ruto further wondered how the immigration department allowed Matiang’i who is a wanted person to flee out of the country.
“Why was Matiang’i cleared to travel yet he is under investigation by various agencies?” the senator wondered.
However, Fred Matiang’i’s lawyer Danston Omari on Wednesday, March 1, refuted claims that his client fled over his DCI summons.
While confirming that indeed his client left the country on Sunday, February 19, and that he traveled to the United Kingdom to handle family matters.
“There is nothing sinister about his travel. He is there to attend to an urgent private family matter and shall return to resume his ordinary routine as a private citizen,” Omari stated.
Omari further asked Kenyans to stop speculating over Matiang’i’s travel given that the former CS would return to the country in due course.
“Those familiar with his travel schedules over time will confirm that he travels regularly to that part of the world via KLM,” he added.
