Kenya's Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen Didn't Issue Arrest Warrant for Opposition Politician Fred Matiang'i

31 March 2026
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Dancan Bwire

Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen didn't issue arrest warrant for opposition politician Fred Matiang'i

IN SHORT: Graphics claiming that Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen ordered the arrest of opposition politician Fred Matiang'i have gone viral on social media. However, the claim is false.

Graphics attributing a quote to Kenya's interior minister Kipchumba Murkomen, claiming he has ordered the arrest of opposition politician Fred Matiang'i over "classified crimes", are circulating on social media.

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"I have issued an arrest warrant for Matiang'i this night for classified crimes. He should surrender or turn himself in to the nearest police station. Our officers are already at his home to escort him to the police station. Any resistance will be met with brutal and liquid force," the graphics read.

President William Ruto appointed Murkomen to lead the ministry in December 2024. The National Police Service works closely with the interior ministry.

Matiang'i previously served as a cabinet secretary, heading various ministries under former president Uhuru Kenyatta between 2013 and 2022. He is a key political figure in Kenya's opposition and has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential elections, in which Ruto will also be seeking re-election.

The Kenyan government has often been accused of using state institutions to harass and intimidate political opponents.

The graphics have been posted widely.

But can they be trusted? We checked.

Fake graphics

In Kenya, an arrest warrant is usually issued by a court, typically after a complaint is filed. The interior minister does not have the judicial power to issue such warrants. This is an early indication that the claim in the graphics may be false.

Africa Check noted that one of the pages posted the quote on two different graphics, attributing it first to Murkomen and shortly after to Ruto. This is a clear indication that the page cannot be trusted. The pages posting these graphics also have a history of publishing fabricated claims.

In February 2023, when police officers surrounded Matiang'i's home, local media outlets reported the news. Suspiciously, the alleged quote by Murkomen ordering his arrest has not been covered anywhere else. This is a tell-tale sign that the quote is fabricated.

All signs point to fabricated graphics that should be ignored.

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. X @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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