Kenyan lawyer and political firebrand Miguna Miguna has rubbished former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s plans to vie for the presidency in 2027, saying he should be disqualified from public office over what he described as a record of “impunity and lawlessness.”

Speaking during a Citizen TV interview aired Sunday, July 13, Miguna accused Matiang’i of gross misuse of power during his time in government, linking him to state-sponsored brutality, illegal detentions, and personal acts of intimidation and torture.

“Fred Matiang’i was the face of impunity in the former regime,” Miguna asserted. “From enforced disappearances to overseeing torture, to the destruction of my home and my own abduction all done in open defiance of court orders he embodies the very abuse of state power that Kenyans should reject.”

Miguna, who was deported in 2018 after swearing in then-opposition leader Raila Odinga as the “People’s President,” recounted being drugged and flown out of the country against his will, eventually being abandoned in Dubai.

“He had me sedated and deported while unconscious. Then his office issued red alerts to prevent me from flying back home,” Miguna claimed, adding that several courts found Matiang’i guilty of contempt, including rulings by Justices Odunga and Chacha Mwita, which have yet to be enforced.

He faulted President William Ruto for allegedly failing to follow through on assurances he made when Miguna returned to the country in 2022, shortly after Ruto took office.

“Ruto assured me he would have then-Attorney General Justin Muturi resolve my pending legal issues. Like many of his promises to Kenyans, that commitment was not honored,” Miguna said.

The lawyer further revealed that he is actively pursuing legal redress for his treatment, with lawsuits already filed against Matiang’i and others linked to his arrest, detention, and forced exile.

“I’m demanding compensation for the torture and illegal actions that kept me in exile for five years,” he said, noting that he is seeking damages not just from individuals, but also from the Kenyan government.

Miguna warned that allowing leaders with such histories to ascend to higher office would erode the country’s democratic gains and respect for the rule of law.

“If we are serious about change, we cannot embrace individuals like Matiang’i, who ignored court orders and violated citizens’ rights with impunity. Court after court ruled against him, yet he’s never been held accountable,” Miguna said.

Matiang’i, who has been engaging in coalition talks with various political figures as he eyes the 2027 race, has consistently defended his tenure, insisting he acted within the bounds of law in the interest of national security.

“I’ve always operated within the law, even as a Cabinet Secretary. If there are claims against me, let those with evidence present it to investigative agencies,” Matiang’i said in a separate interview earlier this month.