Matiang’i said public resources currently being spent on organising and mobilising crowds for political gatherings should instead be channelled towards strengthening schools and improving learning conditions across the country.
Speaking during an interview aired on Kameme FM and K24 TV on Monday, January 26, 2026, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary dismissed the frequent rallies as a misplaced show of political strength that delivers little value to ordinary Kenyans.
According to Matiang’i, leaders routinely transport supporters to political events and allegedly pay them using public funds, only to engage in political chest-thumping while critical sectors such as education continue to struggle.
“The most important thing for some leaders today is holding rallies, ferrying people around, paying them and then boasting about it,” Matiang’i said.
“Yet Kenya has enough resources. The problem is how those resources are being used.”
He argued that the country’s financial challenges are not due to a lack of money but rather poor prioritisation and wasteful expenditure.
He argued that the country’s financial challenges are not due to a lack of money but rather poor prioritisation and wasteful expenditure.
In his view, redirecting funds from political mobilisation to social services would significantly ease pressure on struggling institutions.
Matiang’i proposed that money spent on organising large-scale rallies—often involving transport, allowances, security, and logistics—be redirected to the Ministry of Education to address long-standing gaps in funding.
“This money that is used daily to hire buses, move people to rallies in places like Sagana and elsewhere, and pay them should be invested in education,” he said.
Matiang’i proposed that money spent on organising large-scale rallies—often involving transport, allowances, security, and logistics—be redirected to the Ministry of Education to address long-standing gaps in funding.
“This money that is used daily to hire buses, move people to rallies in places like Sagana and elsewhere, and pay them should be invested in education,” he said.
“If we put it into schools, the impact would be felt immediately and for generations.”
Education at the centre
The former CS, who previously oversaw the education docket, has in recent weeks emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the government’s handling of the sector.
Education at the centre
The former CS, who previously oversaw the education docket, has in recent weeks emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the government’s handling of the sector.
He has repeatedly warned that parents, teachers and learners are bearing the burden of poorly coordinated policy decisions.
Matiang’i said schools across the country are facing mounting pressure due to reduced capitation, rising operational costs, and uncertainty surrounding education reforms.
Matiang’i said schools across the country are facing mounting pressure due to reduced capitation, rising operational costs, and uncertainty surrounding education reforms.
He questioned why key decisions affecting millions of learners are often made without adequate consultation.
In a statement posted on his official X account earlier this month, Matiang’i called on the government to urgently convene education stakeholders to address what he described as growing confusion and strain within schools.
“The crisis we are seeing is not theoretical. It is affecting parents who cannot afford fees, teachers who lack resources, and school administrators struggling to keep institutions running,” he said.
He further criticised the lack of clear communication from the government on recent changes to education funding, noting that many school heads remain uncertain about how to plan for the academic year amid shrinking budgets.
Political undertones
Matiang’i’s remarks come amid heightened political activity as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a statement posted on his official X account earlier this month, Matiang’i called on the government to urgently convene education stakeholders to address what he described as growing confusion and strain within schools.
“The crisis we are seeing is not theoretical. It is affecting parents who cannot afford fees, teachers who lack resources, and school administrators struggling to keep institutions running,” he said.
He further criticised the lack of clear communication from the government on recent changes to education funding, noting that many school heads remain uncertain about how to plan for the academic year amid shrinking budgets.
Political undertones
Matiang’i’s remarks come amid heightened political activity as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Rallies and regional tours have intensified, often framed as development inspections but doubling as political mobilisation platforms.
While the government has defended such engagements as necessary for public participation and accountability, critics argue they have become expensive publicity exercises with limited tangible outcomes.
While the government has defended such engagements as necessary for public participation and accountability, critics argue they have become expensive publicity exercises with limited tangible outcomes.
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