Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has jetted back to the country after his recent brief stay in the United States of America.

Matiang'i, who was reportedly in the US to clear with the World Bank following his resignation to focus on politics, was received by crowds gathered at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

While appreciating the challenges faced by the common citizenry, Matiang'i told the supporters that he had returned to focus full-time on seeking solutions to them.

He reminded them that whilst the resolve to bring positive change is evident across the nation, the only arsenal to actualise it is the voter's card.

Matiang'i suggested that it would be pointless to constantly pontificate about the much-needed reforms when the protagonists are not mobilising themselves to enlist as voters.

"People are suffering whether they are supporting the ruling power or not. The suffering and challenges are across the board. You can trust me, I am going to focus my time on how we can change the lives of our people. We can do as much as we want, but if we are not registering and preparing to vote, we have not succeeded. We must prepare to participate effectively and in a quality manner in the forthcoming elections," he said.

The ex-CS appealed to the young population that has lately been vibrantly vocal about the need to change the political status quo for the better.

Matiang'i urged them to purpose to have their voter cards and secure them for the oncoming vote.

According to them, the change the public thirsts for can only materialise through an electoral process which is defined by the ballot.

"Let's organise ourselves, and please, Gen Z, we can do as much as we want, but if we are not registering and preparing to vote, we have not succeeded. The drive is we register and prepare ourselves to participate effectively and in a quality manner in the forthcoming electoral process," he said.

A native of Nyamira County, Matiang'i became widely known for his no-nonsense disposition across various dockets he held in Uhuru's ten-year presidential tenure.

His journey in public service commenced in 2013 when he joined Uhuru's first Cabinet as the CS for ICT.

A father of two, Matiang'i moved from the academic world into political governance, having previously taught at the University of Nairobi and Egerton University.

His tenure in the ICT Ministry was relatively brief, after which he served as the acting CS for Lands before formally taking charge of the Education Ministry.

During his time in the Education docket, he earned significant recognition for his efforts to curb rampant cheating in national examinations, an issue that had been routine in Kenya's education system for years until 2015.

Matiang'i's prominence in government further grew when he was appointed to head the Ministry of Interior following the passing of Joseph Nkaissery in 2017.

However, his tenure as Interior CS was marked by controversy, as he faced accusations of endorsing police brutality during anti-government protests, particularly amid disputes over the 2017 presidential election results.

Source: TUKO.co.ke