Justin Muturi: I wasn’t sacked because of absconding cabinet meetings

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has spoken out about his dismissal days after President William Ruto removed him in a mini-cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Muturi emphasized that he was fired because of his firm stance against abductions and extrajudicial killings, not for skipping cabinet meetings.

“There is no doubt that I was sacked because of my stand, a very firm stand, on the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings, and not because of the so-called absconding of cabinet meetings,” Muturi said.

Despite his removal, the former Public Service CS vowed to continue advocating for the rights of Kenyans.

“But I dare say this—if the intention was to silence me, unfortunately, they have dialed the wrong number. I will never tire of fighting for the rights of the people of this republic, no matter what it costs,” Muturi declared.

Ruto’s cabinet shake-up

President Ruto dismissed Muturi in his latest cabinet reshuffle, replacing him with Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku.

In an announcement on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Ruto also moved Environment CS Aden Duale to the Health Ministry, replacing him with Health CS Debora Barasa.

During his tenure as Public Service CS, Muturi was one of the most vocal critics of Ruto’s administration from within the government.

His unfiltered remarks on sensitive issues, from human rights violations to internal governance, heightened tensions and raised questions about his future in the Cabinet.

The friction peaked on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, when President Ruto publicly labeled Muturi incompetent during an Iftar dinner at State House.

Ruto criticized Muturi’s performance as Attorney General, before he was reassigned to the Public Service docket and eventually fired, accusing him of delaying the operationalization of the Waqf Endowment Fund.

“You’ve talked about Waqf, and I agree with you. It has taken too long. There is absolutely no reason for the delays, and I had a problem with the AG who was there before—he was quite incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months,” Ruto stated.

This remark sealed Muturi’s fate, as Ruto officially dismissed him from the Cabinet a day later.

Ruto reveals why he fired Muturi

President Ruto recently revealed the behind-the-scenes events that led to Muturi’s transfer from Attorney General (AG) to Cabinet Secretary—and his eventual sacking.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, March 31, 2025, ahead of his Mt Kenya tour, Ruto said that Muturi had initially declined the AG position, admitting that he had been out of legal practice for too long.

“I gave Muturi a job as Attorney General. He told me that because he had not practised law for a long time—since he was a magistrate, then went to Parliament, and later became Speaker—he wouldn’t be able to do it. After some time, I saw that he was indeed struggling with the job. Maybe it was my mistake because I persuaded him to take it. So I decided to reassign him to a ministerial role,” Ruto explained.

However, Ruto claimed that Muturi later went on strike and stopped attending cabinet meetings.

“What was I supposed to do?” Ruto posed.

Muturi served as Attorney General before being removed in June 2024 following the Gen Z-led protests that led Ruto to dismiss nearly his entire Cabinet with exception of Prime Cabinet and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi.