Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi’s tenure in President William Ruto’s government appears to be hanging by a thread after National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah suggested he is on his way out. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Ichung’wah dismissed Muturi’s claims about his son’s abduction during last year’s anti-government protests, alleging that the CS has “beef with his boss.”
Ichung’wah’s remarks come at a time of heightened political tension, with Muturi increasingly critical of the Kenya Kwanza administration. The former Speaker has openly opposed certain government policies and spoken out against alleged abductions during demonstrations, drawing comparisons to Ruto’s own defiance of former President Uhuru Kenyatta in the run-up to the 2022 elections.
The Majority Leader suggested that Muturi’s fallout with Ruto had been brewing for some time, hinting that his removal as Attorney General last year was the beginning of his political decline within the government. “There are reasons why Muturi is probably on his way out,” Ichung’wah stated, reinforcing speculation about an impending cabinet reshuffle.
Muturi’s allegations against National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Noordin Haji regarding his son Leslie Muturi’s alleged abduction have further strained his relationship with the administration. Ichung’wah dismissed these claims, asserting that the CS was playing politics with a serious matter. British-American journalist Mehdi Hassan, who conducted the interview, questioned how a senior government official’s claims could be dismissed so easily, further fueling the debate.
With Ichung’wah’s latest comments, political analysts believe it is only a matter of time before Muturi either steps down or is removed from his post. The larger question now is whether President Ruto will act swiftly or allow Muturi to remain in his cabinet as a weakened figure.
As the political clock ticks, the fate of CS Muturi remains uncertain. Will he be the next high-profile casualty of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s internal conflicts, or will he manage to navigate the storm and retain his position? Time will tell.
