Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has continued his public criticism of President William Ruto, alleging that a climate of fear has gripped the Cabinet, making it difficult for members to speak freely or associate with him.
Speaking during a live TV interview on Friday, Muturi revealed that many of his former Cabinet colleagues no longer answer his calls, even on WhatsApp. He attributed this to fear of being linked with him, which he claimed could lead to repercussions from the presidency.
“They tell me, get somebody to call on your behalf then we can talk,” Muturi said, highlighting the extent to which Cabinet Secretaries are allegedly avoiding any traceable communication with him.
Muturi, who was dismissed from his Cabinet role on March 26, 2024, through a statement by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of President Ruto’s administration in recent months.
Asked whether other Cabinet Secretaries share his concerns about how the government is being run, Muturi responded: “I don’t know. You know many of them are very timid. They don’t want to speak.”
President Ruto, in a separate interview earlier in the week at Sagana State Lodge, defended his decision to sack Muturi, describing him as incompetent and accusing him of boycotting Cabinet meetings.
“I gave him a ministerial position, then he went on strike, skipping Cabinet meetings. So, am I the one who fired him, or did he fire himself?” Ruto asked.
In his defense, Muturi pointed to his accomplishments during his tenure, particularly the effort to make the Office of the Attorney General independent—a key campaign promise.
“I don’t have to defend myself about that, the record is there for everybody to see. When I got there, we had committed ourselves in the manifesto that we will make the Office of the State Law independent. I did exactly that with the concurrence of Parliament,” he stated.
The public fallout between Muturi and the President reflects growing political tensions within the Kenya Kwanza government.
