You cannot fight corruption if you practice it every day - Fred Matiang'i

Jubilee Party presidential aspirant Dr Fred Matiang’i has declared his interest in running for Kenya’s top office, saying he is currently in a nationwide listening phase to better understand the priorities of ordinary Kenyans.

“At this early stage, I am holding numerous meetings across the country, listening to what Kenyans believe needs to be done.This is about hearing the people before prescribing solutions,” Matiang’i said.

From those engagements, he says there is near unanimity in public sentiment  including widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration and deep concern over the state of the economy and social services. 

According to Matiang’i, Kenyans are experiencing significant pain, particularly in the social sector, with growing anxiety over national instability and what he described as “incredible dissatisfaction” across society. Over-taxation, he added, has emerged as a dominant concern in nearly every conversation. 

Drawing on his experience at the World Bank and in government, Matiang’i acknowledged that politics operates very differently from technocratic institutions.

“I come from a technical environment, so joining politics has been a profound lesson in patience. It has given me a deeper appreciation of the voice of the people. You should never underrate anyone,” he said.

On corruption, the former Cabinet Secretary argued that leadership by example remains the most effective weapon.

“There is no stronger or more effective way of fighting corruption than exemplary leadership. You cannot have the moral authority to tell people to stop doing what you do every day. If the ruling elite are corrupt, then corruption becomes a permanent battle,” he said.

Asked about efforts to unite the opposition, Matiang’i cautioned against expectations of quick fixes, describing unity as an evolving process rather than a single event.

“Finding a framework for working together is a journey,” he said.

 “You have to align vision, manifestos, interests, and a platform that reflects what we desire as a country. This does not happen in a month. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being truthful, it is a process,” he added.

He also spoke candidly about the personal cost of political life, noting that after leaving government, he briefly enjoyed privacy and time with family, luxuries he says are now gone.

“The first price you pay is losing your privacy,” Matiang’i said.

“The long hours, the meetings, the missed family moments I have failed to show up on important days. A more experienced politician once told me, ‘You can’t eat your cake and have it.’ Until this journey is complete, some sacrifices are unavoidable,” he added.

On development rhetoric, Matiang’i dismissed comparisons suggesting Kenya could rapidly emulate countries like Singapore, calling such narratives unrealistic.

 In his view, such slogans amount to political theatrics rather than serious policy. 

“It is a political fad pushed by a regime that has survived on lies,” he said.