NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has revisited one of Kenya’s most tense political moments — the self-swearing in by opposition leader Raila Odinga at Uhuru Park on January 30, 2018 — describing it as “the greatest test” of his career.
Matiang’i emphasized how his security team opted for restraint to avoid bloodshed among the thousands of Odinga supporters gathered that day.
According to Matiang’i, despite the event being declared unlawful by the government and receiving warnings from multiple fronts, it was crucial that the ceremony proceed without violence so as not to deepen the rift in an already divided nation.
He said security chiefs met ahead of the event and agreed on a strategy that ensured order and prevented the use of force.
Though the government shut down major TV stations — including Citizen TV, NTV, and KTN — and broadcast signals were cut, Matiang’i stated that what could have escalated into a disaster was managed peacefully.
He acknowledged that internal pressure existed to use force, but those in charge chose not to fire a shot.
Matiang’i also reflected on Raila Odinga himself, noting that even during confrontational times, Odinga carried himself with a mix of defiance and good spirits.
He said Odinga’s ability to maintain composure and his occasional light-hearted humor contributed to diffusing tension — a contrast to the hostile atmosphere surrounding the event.
