Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday, March 10, asked Kenyans to work on family structures and values as he castigated couples for not solving marital issues.
Speaking during the opening of the National State of Crime Conference, the CS encouraged family units to work with faith-based organisations to keep the peace in the households, following increasing cases of domestic conflict and violence in the last 12 months.
"No one has a right to beat the other whether it is men or women. We have to build coalitions, let us work with faith-based organisations," said Matiang'i.
"If there is anything Covid-19 has taught us, it is that our family bonds are weak and they need to be worked on. The government will not raise your child for you and the government will not manage your wife or husband for you. It is you. We have to be responsible," he added.
The CS stated that law enforcement agencies had done their best in trying to tame acts of violence, both in families and the political spectrum, but he blamed the judiciary for being lenient on the perpetrators.
He expressed his displeasure at how Kenyans condemned him for talking tough and acting less.
"I am ready to go beyond that tough talk but what do you expect me to do with the suspects...am I to murder them or put them on firing squad?," the CS questioned.
"Let us have a candid conversation about these issues. It is not just about the police, we must stop this pretentious behavior and the doublespeak," he added.
The CS lamented saying that petty offenders like traffic offenders were rotting in jail while dangerous criminals were roaming free. He gave several examples of cases including one where a leader took a gun from his bodyguard and shot someone dead.
"We gathered evidence and took them to court. As we speak, they are still free because they were released on bail with a surety of the same amount," Matiangí said.
Matiang'i indicated that it was high time for the judiciary to act and give a way forward on how criminal cases should be sorted out.
"This is so frustrating even for the IG and in fact, it is becoming a ritual for police officers. It is the same situation that is hurting government projects because the courts have issued so many injunctions stopping them," he stated.
