Former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Justin Muturi, has formally handed over his role to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, marking the end of a tumultuous tenure characterised by mounting tensions with President William Ruto. The handover comes in the wake of a fallout triggered by the abduction of Muturi’s son by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in June 2023.
Muturi, in a heartfelt statement, thanked ministry staff for their unwavering support, praising their dedication to strengthening public service. However, the pleasantries masked deeper political strife. President Ruto dismissed Muturi on March 26, an action many interpret as a culmination of escalating disagreements over rising cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Muturi had become an outspoken critic of enforced disappearances, a stance that placed him at odds with the administration. “The issue I raised on January 12 was an objection to abductions and extrajudicial killings. As a government, we cannot turn a blind eye to these violations,” Muturi asserted, defending his public criticism. He labelled calls for his resignation as “immoral,” insisting that leaders should commend his commitment to justice.
The rift deepened on March 12 when Muturi, refusing to attend Cabinet meetings, rebuffed calls to resign, citing a duty to uphold accountability. In response, President Ruto, through Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, announced the nomination of Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku to the Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes docket, pending parliamentary approval.
But abductions were not the only sticking point. During an Iftar dinner at State House, Ruto publicly criticised Muturi for “fairly incompetent” handling of the Waqf Act, accusing him of stalling efforts to establish a Muslim Endowment Fund. Muturi hit back, clarifying that the existing Waqf Act does not authorise the creation of such a fund, and labelled the accusation as misguided.
Muturi’s dismissal has highlighted cracks within the Kenya Kwanza government, revealing a clash between a president seeking loyalty and a cabinet member committed to principles. As Geoffrey Ruku awaits parliamentary approval, the government faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of abductions and the legal interpretation of religious endowments. The political fallout, however, is far from over.
