Matiang’i makes major corruption pledge ahead of 2027 election – and his family is included
Jubilee Party Deputy Party Leader and 2027 presidential aspirant Fred Matiang’i has pledged to wage a tougher fight against corruption if elected president, drawing a comparison with his efforts to curb examination cheating during his tenure as Education Cabinet Secretary.
Matiang’i said on Wednesday, October 7, that his administration would focus on enforcing existing laws and strengthening leadership accountability rather than creating new anti-corruption institutions.
He also made a personal commitment to keep both himself and his family out of government business, arguing that leaders cannot credibly combat corruption while benefiting from the systems they are expected to police.
“I will fight corruption with more zeal than I fought exam cheating. I will not do business with the government, and we can end the corruption vices. That is what Kenya needs,” Matiang’i said.
The former Education and Interior Cabinet Secretary said public officials must lead by example if Kenya is to make meaningful progress in tackling corruption.
He argued that the country already has sufficient laws and institutions to deal with graft, but that political leadership and the willingness to enforce existing rules remain the bigger challenges.
‘We do not need new laws’
Matiang’i said he would not make the creation of additional commissions or legislation a central part of his anti-corruption strategy.
“In matters of corruption, we do not need new laws; we have enough. We also do not need new commissions because we have enough. What we need is honest, forthright and courageous leadership,” he said.
He said the credibility of any anti-corruption campaign ultimately depends on the conduct of those occupying public office.
“You cannot fight corruption if you are the problem, because you cannot tell people to stop doing what you do every day.”
Matiang’i said his approach would therefore begin with his own conduct, insisting that he was not seeking public office as a means of accumulating wealth.
“I have no interest in money, and I am not looking for money. I have to lead by example.”
He further said his children would also not conduct business with the government should he become president, framing the pledge as a way of avoiding conflicts of interest and strengthening public confidence in government procurement and decision-making.
Government projects under scrutiny
The corruption debate comes as Matiang’i has increasingly criticised the management of major government programmes and public platforms.
He has raised questions over the operation of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the affordable housing programme and the eCitizen platform, arguing that concerns over public finances and procurement require stronger scrutiny.
Matiang’i has also cited audit findings concerning unsupported balances and procurement-related issues involving eCitizen, using the concerns to argue for greater accountability in the management of public resources.
The former Interior CS has similarly questioned the state of Kenya’s sugar industry, particularly the difficulties facing State-owned mills despite the continued operation of privately owned sugar companies.
He has attributed some of the industry’s problems to entrenched interests and cartels and has called for stronger oversight of public enterprises.
From examination cheating to election integrity
Matiang’i has repeatedly drawn on his record in the education sector as he builds his case for the presidency.
As Education Cabinet Secretary, he oversaw measures aimed at tackling examination leaks and cheating, an experience he now presents as evidence of his willingness to enforce rules despite resistance.
The issue has also become part of his political messaging on the 2027 General Election, with Matiang’i warning against interference with the electoral process.
His argument is that the same determination used to protect the integrity of national examinations should be applied to protecting the integrity of the vote.
The former Cabinet Secretary is now positioning political will, personal accountability and institutional discipline at the centre of his presidential campaign.
Matiang’i’s 2027 pitch
Matiang’i is among the political figures positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with corruption, the economy, public-sector accountability and service delivery expected to remain major issues in the campaign.
He has also called for greater participation by young people in national decision-making, while criticising what he describes as shortcomings in governance and the management of public resources.
His latest remarks are likely to intensify the political debate over corruption and accountability, particularly as opposition figures seek to distinguish their proposed approach to government from the record of the current administration.
For Matiang’i, the central argument is that Kenya does not necessarily need another anti-corruption body or another law. Instead, he says, it needs leaders prepared to enforce the rules already on the books — beginning with themselves.
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