Daisy Cherogony’s story continues to haunt the conscience of Kenyans, especially now that Fred Matiang’i is quietly positioning himself for a future stab at the presidency.
It is deeply troubling that a man who once used his influence to destroy the career of a hardworking woman is now eyeing the highest office in the land.
Matiang’i, who portrayed himself as a disciplined and no-nonsense public servant, showed a different face in April 2017 at JKIA one of entitlement, arrogance, and abuse of power.
On that day, a rainy Nairobi morning, Daisy Cherogony was doing what Kenyans are constantly told to do follow the rules. She simply asked Matiang’i to respect airport security protocols and queue like everyone else.
Instead of setting an example as a senior public official, Matiang’i made a call that led to her immediate suspension. A simple act of enforcing the law was twisted into “gross misconduct” because it embarrassed a man who believed he was above the rules.
That phone call to Transport CS James Macharia, reportedly triggered by wounded ego, destroyed Cherogony’s livelihood.
Her years of service and clean record at JKIA meant nothing once a powerful man felt offended. It’s this type of unchecked power that should worry Kenyans as Matiang’i sets his sights on State House.
If he could not tolerate being asked to queue at an airport, how would he handle dissent, criticism, or accountability as president?
What happened to Cherogony was not just about one woman losing her job it was about the message it sent to public servants across the country: follow the law at your own risk if a VIP is involved.
For a man who claims to champion good governance and fairness, Matiang’i’s actions showed the exact opposite.
Cherogony, a single mother, was not given the dignity of a fair hearing before her dismissal. When she turned to the courts for justice, the same system failed her, siding with those in power despite the glaring imbalance. Matiang’i publicly distanced himself from the incident, claiming he had no role in her firing.
But everyone knows how Kenya works powerful voices don’t need to say much; they just need to make a call. The system responds. That’s exactly what happened here.Now, as Matiang’i rebrands himself as a future national leader, Kenyans must ask tough questions.
Can someone who misused authority to crush a junior employee really be trusted to lead a nation of 50 million people? Is this the kind of leadership Kenya needs, one that values ego over fairness, privilege over justice? Daisy Cherogony paid a heavy price for doing the right thing.
If Kenyans ignore her story, they risk elevating to power a man whose past is stained with injustice and hypocrisy. The presidency requires humility, restraint, and respect for all Kenyans not just the elite.
Based on how Matiang’i handled one moment of minor embarrassment at an airport, he has already failed that test.
