How Matiang'i Snuck Out Of Kenya Days Before DCI Summons

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i had flown out of the country on Sunday, February 19, days before he was scheduled to appear at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters after being summoned.

In a letter addressed to the DCI by the Immigration Department on Tuesday, February 28, it was indicated that Matiang'i left the country after he was issued his passport on January 12, 2022.

The former CS was also reported to have boarded a plane at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on that day, bound for the Netherlands.

How former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i flew to the Netherlands on February 19 pic.twitter.com/ZTLYRJHAnI — Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) February 28, 2023

"Passport number BK276318 was issued to Dr. Okengo Matiangi on 12th January 2022. He is also a holder of Diplomatic passport number DK0067.

"The subject departed on 19th February 2023 through JKIA on KLM fight number KL 566," the letter read in part.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the Netherlands' flag carrier airline that plies the Nairobi-Amsterdam route. 

Viral Tea did spot checks through flight tracking platform FlightAware on the flight Matiang'i was on during that day and found that he boarded the KLM flight at 12.07am local time, and arrived at Amsterdam Schipol airport at 6:27 am Netherlands time.

Since Kenya and the Netherlands are two hours apart, a flight that would usually take six hours took eight hours between the two destinations.

The Immigration Department did not however provide details of Matiang'i's final destination, neither did they reveal details of his return to the country.

The former CS's woes piled up after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wrote to Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei seeking information regarding his declared wealth.

EACC chief executive, Twalib Mbarak stated that the commission "is carrying out investigations involving Dr Fred Matiangi." and would use the data collected from his wealth as evidence.

"Pursuant to Section 30(1) (4) (b) of the Public Officers Ethics Act, the Commission wishes to request for Certified Copies of Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities forms for years 2012 to 2022, including the initial and final declarations," stated the letter. 

Furthermore, Mbarak delegated EACC officers Abdul Low and Paul Mugwe to collect the documents from Koskei's office at Harambee House.

The commission wants Koskei to publicise the former CS's declarations of income, assets, and liabilities.

EACC offices in Nairobi. /FILE