Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has strongly criticized former Public Service CS Justin Muturi for allegedly withholding government documents, warning that such actions could lead to legal repercussions. Speaking to the press, Murkomen accused Muturi of breaching confidentiality by keeping sensitive government records in his personal email, a move he termed as unlawful and suspicious.
Murkomen’s remarks came after Muturi, during an interview on NTV, accused President William Ruto of orchestrating corrupt deals and claimed to possess evidence in softcopy. The Interior CS questioned Muturi’s motives, stating that as a former Attorney General, he swore an oath of secrecy and should not have retained classified documents after leaving office.
“In another country, he could have been arrested,” Murkomen said, emphasizing that government documents, often marked as top secret, should never be treated as personal property. He likened Muturi’s actions to the 2016 scandal involving former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who faced backlash for using a private email for official communications, risking national security.
Murkomen also dismissed Muturi’s claims that his security detail was withdrawn as political intimidation. He suggested that the reduction could be due to Muturi’s change in status after being dismissed as a CS but promised to consult the Inspector General for clarification. “We don’t play politics with security matters,” he stated.
Muturi, however, remained defiant, insisting that his security withdrawal was an act of intimidation. “If this is another attempt to intimidate me, they have dialed yet another wrong number,” he said.
The escalating war of words highlights growing tensions within Kenya’s political landscape, with Murkomen framing Muturi’s actions as a breach of trust while Muturi positions himself as a whistleblower against corruption. Legal experts suggest that if Muturi indeed retained confidential documents, he could face prosecution under Kenya’s laws on classified information.
As the debate continues, questions linger over the legality of Muturi’s document retention and whether his allegations against the government will gain traction or backfire under legal scrutiny. The situation underscores the delicate balance between transparency and confidentiality in handling state affairs.
