President William Ruto has dismissed Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Justin Muturi, replacing him with Mbeere Member of Parliament Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku. The move comes after months of growing tensions between the head of state and Muturi, primarily fueled by the latter’s outspoken stance on extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances linked to police operations.
Muturi, a former Speaker of the National Assembly, had publicly criticized the government’s handling of abductions and killings of Generation Z protesters in June and December 2024. He revealed that his own son was among the victims, further escalating his calls for accountability. The now-former CS had even taken the unprecedented step of requesting to be excused from Cabinet meetings until the issue was addressed, a bold move that reportedly irked the president.
Despite pressure, Muturi defended his stance, arguing that as a public servant, it was his duty to call out injustices. “I took an oath to serve the people of Kenya with integrity and transparency. If speaking against impunity costs me my job, so be it,” he stated in a recent interview. His remarks gained significant public support, especially among activists and civil rights groups who have long decried police brutality.
President Ruto, who had remained silent on the matter for weeks, finally addressed the controversy during an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi. He branded Muturi as “fairly incompetent,” citing his inefficiency in setting up the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf) during his tenure as Attorney General. According to Ruto, this failure denied the commission the opportunity to properly manage Islamic endowments, a matter of significant concern to the Muslim community.
The sacking of Muturi signals a tightening grip by Ruto on his administration, as he seeks to consolidate power and maintain unity within his Cabinet. Political analysts suggest that this move could have broader implications, as it might embolden other dissenting voices within the government or, conversely, silence critics fearing similar consequences.
With Geoffrey Ruku now stepping into the role, all eyes will be on his approach to public service reforms and whether he aligns more closely with the president’s vision. Meanwhile, Muturi’s next political move remains uncertain, though his vocal opposition to government excesses may keep him in the public eye for some time
