Dr. Fred Matiang‘i is a highly accomplished Kenyan politician and academician.
He has a wealth of experience in academia, civil society, and government, having served in various capacities in these sectors.
Fred Matiang’i is known for his no-nonsense approach to governance, which has earned him a reputation as a ‘fix-it man’ and a ‘super Cabinet Secretary.’
Below is a summary of Dr Fred Matiang’i biography, work history, family, controversies, and net worth.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | PhD in Comparative Literature (UON), Masters in English (UON), Bachelors in Education (Kenyatta University) |
| Work History | High School Teacher, Lecturer at Egerton and University of Nairobi, Executive Director of State University of New York – Kenya Chapter |
| Career | ICT Minister, Education Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government |
| Achievements | Delocalisation of principals, streamlining of national exams, dismantling exam cheating cartels |
| Controversies | Deportation of Miguna Miguna, downscaling of William Ruto’s security detail, allegedly staging a police home raid |
| Family | Married with 2 children |
| Age | Birthday on February 2 (year of birth unknown) |
| Net worth | Unknown |
Education
Dr. Fred Matiang’i attended Kiabonyoru High School and later joined Kisii High School.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kenyatta University, a Master’s degree in English from the University of Nairobi, and a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Nairobi.
Work History
Dr. Fred Matiang’i started his career as a High School Teacher and later worked as a Lecturer at Egerton University and the University of Nairobi.
He also served as the East African Representative for Civil Society in Kenya, the Commonwealth Parliament Association, Parliament of Ethiopia, and the East Africa Legislative Parliament.
Before his appointment to the government in 2013, Matiang’i was the executive director of State University of New York – Kenya Chapter, where he spearheaded the creation of Parliament’s media centre under the Kenya Parliamentary Strengthening Project.
Matiang’i Link with Nyachae
Matiang’i has previously worked as a political consultant to the former powerful Cabinet minister – the two are family relatives.
The CS managed Nyachae’s 2002 presidential campaign where he vied against Mwai Kibaki and the current President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Between 1997 and 2002, Matiang’i worked as Nyachae’s secretary, which is where he is believed to have picked the firm administrative skills that catapulted him to the top of Uhuru’s cabinet.
Super Cabinet Secretary 2013-2022
President Uhuru Kenyatta tapped Dr. Fred Matiang’i from academia in 2013 to head the ICT Ministry. In November 2015, Matiang’i was moved to the Education docket.
While there, he is credited with radical reforms which were praised as having transformed the education sector.
Among them was the order on delocalisation of principals and insistence that all school buses be painted yellow.
It was in his tenure that the tradition of releasing KCPE and KCSE exam results in December and March respectively, changed.
Matiang’i also dismantled cartels that ran an examination cheating racket in the country.
The move led to a drastic fall in the number of students scoring A grades in the KCSE exam.
He also introduced changes requiring universities to ensure that only those with PhDs and have published in at least two journals are allowed to teach.
He also streamlined the management of national examinations.
On 8 July 2017, after the death of Joseph Ole Nkaissery, Matiang’i was appointed in acting capacity as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government.
He was given this post courtesy of his track record as a ‘fix it man’ for the President in terms of getting things done.
Matiang’i took over the full role in 2018.
In January 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta, through Executive Order Number 1 of 2019, appointed him chairperson of National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee.
Matiang’i Family
Dr. Fred Matiang’i is married to one wife and blessed with two children.
Matiang’i’s family is known to his close friends and family members only.
Matiang’i Net worth
From his salary and lifestyle, Matiang’i is a rich man. However, his actual net worth is yet to be established
Controversies involving Dr. Fred Matiang’i:
- Deportation of Miguna Miguna in 2018: Matiang’i signed a deportation order against Miguna Miguna, a Kenyan-Canadian lawyer and politician, citing his Canadian citizenship as the reason for his removal from Kenya. This sparked widespread outrage and protests among opposition supporters, who accused Matiang’i of violating Miguna’s rights and acting outside the law.
- Downscaling of William Ruto’s security detail: Fred Matiang’i was accused of orchestrating the downscaling of then-Deputy President William Ruto’s security detail, which was seen by many as an attempt to undermine his political ambitions. Ruto’s allies accused Matiang’i of involvement, but Matiang’i denied any wrongdoing.
- Alleged faked police home raid: In February 2023, Dr Fred Matiang’i was accused of faking a police home raid at his Karen home, a suburb of Nairobi. Kenya Kwanza politicians claimed that the raid was staged and that Matiang’i was using it to gain sympathy and bolster his image. However, the ODPP dropped the charges against him.
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