President Ruto Sacks Public Service CS Justin Muturi
President William Ruto has officially dismissed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi and nominated Mbeere Member of Parliament Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku as his replacement. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement released by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, marking yet another reshuffle in Ruto’s administration.
Why Was Justin Muturi Fired?
For months, Muturi had been at loggerheads with President Ruto, especially over his vocal criticism of the government’s handling of extrajudicial killings and abductions of Gen Z protesters in June and December 2024. The issue became personal for Muturi, as his own son was reportedly a victim of the police brutality he was condemning.
Muturi had even taken the unprecedented step of requesting to be excused from Cabinet meetings until the agenda included discussions on police abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Despite mounting pressure, he remained defiant, asserting that his duty as a public servant required him to speak out against injustices. “Calling out my boss falls within my sworn mandate as a public servant, and I should be applauded, not punished,” he remarked in a recent statement.
Ruto Calls Muturi ‘Fairly Incompetent’
President Ruto, who had largely remained silent on the matter, finally broke his silence on Tuesday during an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi. He openly criticized Muturi’s performance, branding him “fairly incompetent.”
“I had a problem with the AG who was there before—he was fairly 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 said.
His remarks referenced Muturi’s alleged failure to properly establish the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf) while serving as Attorney General, a move that the President claims hindered efforts to manage Islamic endowments effectively.
Muturi Fires Back
Following his dismissal, Muturi took to social media to issue a response to the President. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he defended his actions and provided clarification on the Waqf matter.
“It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi wrote, seemingly dismissing Ruto’s criticism as unfounded.
What’s Next?
With Muturi now out of office, all eyes are on Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, who will take over the Public Service docket. His nomination signals Ruto’s continued efforts to consolidate power within his administration while dealing with internal dissent.
Muturi’s dismissal also raises questions about the government’s stance on police brutality and its handling of Gen Z protesters. Whether his removal will silence critics or fuel further opposition remains to be seen.
In other news: President Ruto Calls CS Justin Muturi ‘Incompetent’ Amid Rift Over Waqf Commission
President Ruto Sacks Public Service CS Justin Muturi