Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i criticized the Kenyan government, accusing it of leveraging state power to influence recent by-elections, stating that "Power comes and goes." His remarks followed chaos and alleged intimidation tactics during mini-polls, particularly in Mbeere North and Malava.

• Matiang'i, the Jubilee Deputy Party Leader, slammed the government for "arrogance" and accused leaders of using state influence to seize votes, citing incidents of violence.
• The by-elections saw government-allied candidates like UDA's Leo Wamuthende and David Ndakwa win parliamentary seats, with close margins, such as Wa Muthende beating Newton 'Karish' Kariuki by 482 votes in Mbeere North.
• Matiang'i warned that such intimidation could lead to anarchy, referencing his past role as Minister for the Interior and emphasizing that "Power comes to an end."