Energy Cabinet Secretary, Opiyo Wandayi, has called on his Public Service counterpart, Justin Muturi, to consider stepping down from his government position if he is no longer satisfied with his role. Wandayi’s remarks, made during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, come after Muturi publicly voiced his concerns about ongoing abductions in Kenya, a sensitive topic that has sparked a significant amount of debate.
Wandayi, who is also a member of the Kenyan Cabinet, emphasized the importance of using internal government channels to address grievances rather than airing them publicly. He remarked that criticism of the government is “a strange phenomenon that can only exist in Kenya.” In his view, if any Cabinet member disagrees with the government’s stance or policies, the only appropriate course of action is to resign.
“As a member of the Cabinet, I have more than enough avenues to voice my opinions or to express myself within the executive framework,” Wandayi stated. He stressed that resigning was the appropriate measure if one felt their views were in stark contrast with the government’s direction.
This is not the first time a senior government official has expressed concerns about Muturi’s public criticism. Over the weekend, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also suggested that Muturi should consider resignation if he found it difficult to reconcile his views with those of the government. Duale reminded Muturi that, as one of the few people with direct access to President William Ruto, he should have used internal avenues to voice his concerns, especially regarding the issue of abductions.
Muturi’s decision to publicly criticize the government was largely influenced by personal experience. In a rare move, the Public Service CS revealed that his own son was abducted in June 2022 amid the Gen Z protests, which was a deeply traumatic event for him. Despite his position as Attorney General at the time, Muturi said he was unable to trace his son despite making several requests to security agencies.
Muturi’s statement regarding the abductions has drawn attention due to the emotional weight of his personal experience. His call for the government to take stronger action against abductions echoes the sentiments of many citizens who have grown frustrated with the increasing violence and lack of accountability.
While Wandayi and Duale have urged Muturi to consider resignation, his call for a serious response to abductions highlights the deepening tensions within the government and the complex balance of loyalty, transparency, and public duty.
