Wamuzi News KeIn a rare and startling revelation, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has broken his silence on the unresolved murders of IEBC ICT Manager Chris Msando and the horrific River Yala killings, placing the blame squarely on internal failures within state institutions.
Speaking during a televised interview that has since ignited nationwide outrage, Matiang’i pointed to the “lethargy, fear, and deliberate sabotage” within government agencies as the reason these high-profile cases remain unsolved years later.
His remarks have reopened wounds long buried under silence and stirred fresh questions about justice, impunity, and the dark underbelly of Kenya’s security apparatus.
“People inside government know what happened. They just chose to look away,” Matiang’i said gravely, referring to both Msando’s murder and the River Yala saga where dozens of unidentified bodies were discovered dumped in the river.
Msando was brutally murdered in July 2017 just days before the general election. His body, showing signs of torture, was found alongside that of 21-year-old Carol Ngumbu. Despite widespread public outcry, the investigation stagnated, with no one ever held accountable.
Similarly, the River Yala case shocked the nation in 2022 when at least 30 decomposing bodies were retrieved under mysterious circumstances, most bearing evidence of torture.
Matiang’i’s comments confirm long-held suspicions that elements within the state may have either been complicit or reluctant to act due to political pressure and a toxic culture of fear.
He admitted that while in office, he too faced resistance when he attempted to push for progress on these cases. “When you are in government and you ask too many questions about certain matters, you are seen as a threat.
People fear becoming the next target,” he stated.The former CS, who once wielded immense power during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, described how state operatives and intelligence officials often stonewalled any attempts at pursuing justice for high-profile killings.
He added that there is a need for a national reckoning and a robust commitment to institutional reform if Kenya is to avoid repeating the same cycle of violence and cover-ups.
Civil society groups have quickly responded to the explosive interview, demanding immediate action. The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Amnesty International Kenya issued a joint statement calling for a renewed independent investigation into both cases, warning that continued silence is breeding a culture of impunity.
“What Matiang’i has confirmed is not new, but it is damning. It shows that the rot is deeper than we thought. The families of victims deserve the truth,” said KHRC Executive Director Davis Malombe.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) have yet to issue statements following Matiang’i’s disclosure.
As Kenyans continue to demand transparency and accountability, the question remains: will this bombshell prompt real action or be swept under the political rug once again?
For now, the ghosts of Chris Msando and the River Yala victims continue to haunt a nation still searching for truth in a landscape littered with unanswered questions and silent witnesses.
