Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has taken a bold stance against the government’s handling of abductions and extrajudicial killings by refusing to attend Cabinet meetings until the issue is formally addressed.
Muturi revealed that he wrote to President William Ruto seeking to be excused from attending Cabinet sittings unless the matter is listed as a key agenda for discussion. Speaking on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, he reiterated that attending Cabinet meetings is mandatory unless one has express permission from the President, which he sought through his letter.
“I have written and sought to be excused from Cabinet meetings until the agenda of abductions and extrajudicial killings is tabled through Parliament or Cabinet so that the Cabinet is able to express itself and give the country the way forward,” he stated.
Muturi’s move comes after his son, Lesly Muturi, was abducted while in the company of friends, including Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje. The CS later intervened, meeting with President Ruto, who in turn contacted National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss Noordin Haji. Muturi claims that Haji admitted they had his son and later facilitated his release.
This incident brought to the forefront the alarming rise in cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings across the country. Muturi, one of the highest-ranking government officials to publicly speak against the issue, insists that the government must address it conclusively.
He dismissed claims that his actions amount to insubordination, emphasizing that he followed due process by officially seeking to be excused. “It is not insubordination when you seek to be excused,” he asserted.
Muturi’s firm stance has sparked national debate, with many Kenyans questioning the government’s commitment to upholding human rights. His public stand also adds pressure on President Ruto’s administration to address concerns over security agencies’ alleged involvement in abductions and killings.
As calls for accountability grow, it remains to be seen whether the government will formally address the issue in upcoming Cabinet meetings, or if Muturi’s absence will lead to further divisions within the administration.
