Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has firmly rejected President William Ruto’s claim that absenteeism and poor performance led to his dismissal. Instead, Muturi argues that his removal resulted from his outspoken stance on abductions and extrajudicial killings among the youth. He believes these issues were critical of Ruto’s administration and, therefore, unwelcome.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Muturi explained that his dismissal followed his repeated calls for the government to address disappearances and unlawful executions. He stated, “My reasons for missing Cabinet meetings are clear. Raising concerns about abductions and extrajudicial killings is a sensitive issue for the President.”
Furthermore, Muturi accused the president’s allies of orchestrating his removal due to his firm stance on these matters. He revealed that he had skipped the last Cabinet meeting on March 10 at State House. According to him, attending the meeting seemed pointless since the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings was unlikely to be discussed.
In addition, Muturi disclosed that he had written three letters to the President, including one on March 10, urging formal discussions on the matter. However, he noted, “The President has never responded to my letters. This shows the issue is not a priority for him or the Cabinet.”
Muturi also expressed shock at Ruto’s remarks during an interview at Sagana Lounge. The President had claimed that the Cabinet had resolved the issue. Muturi countered, “I receive Cabinet dispatches after meetings. This matter has never been discussed.” He linked Ruto’s statements to growing criticism on social media regarding the President’s credibility. He added, “The President’s claims about my absence from Cabinet meetings are untrue. This aligns with the perception that Kenyans question the accuracy of his statements.”
On the other hand, President Ruto defended his decision, arguing that Muturi’s absence demonstrated non-compliance. He remarked, “I reassigned him to another ministry, but he refused to attend Cabinet meetings. Did I fire him, or did he fire himself?” Additionally, Ruto compared Muturi’s situation to that of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. He emphasized, “I gave Muturi another opportunity despite his struggles as AG.”
By Grace Githinji
