In a damning revelation that lifts the veil on murky government dealings, former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has accused President William Ruto of attempting to force through a shady Ksh129 billion deal with Russian investors—right at the airport.
The explosive claims raise serious questions about transparency, legality, and the abuse of executive power under Ruto’s watch.
At the heart of the matter is a billion-dollar proposal to plant trees, now clouded by political intrigue, backdoor pressure, and blatant disregard for the rule of law.
Justin Muturi Blows Whistle on Ruto’s Ksh129B Russian Deal -‘He Tried to Force Me at the Airport’
Former Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Justin Muturi, has come forward with explosive allegations against President William Ruto.
He claims the president attempted to coerce him into approving a Ksh129 billion ($1 billion) deal with Russian investors while Muturi was at an airport.
The deal was tied to the government’s 15 Billion Tree Planting Initiative. According to Muturi, Ruto pressured him to sign the agreement without any proper scrutiny or legal procedures.
The former CS believes the plan was a thinly veiled attempt to channel billions through unauthorized means.
Airport Ambush and Ruto’s Push for a Billion-Dollar Signature
Muturi revealed that the incident occurred during the COP28 Summit in Dubai in December 2023. He had traveled for a state mission and was connecting directly to Dubai when he received a phone call from President Ruto.
“I land in Dubai, Ruto is calling me,” Muturi recalled. “Those Russians are in Dubai, they are waiting for you to sign the document. Your staff has already worked on it, you just need to sign.” Muturi told a local podcast.
But Muturi resisted. He made it clear that he couldn’t—and wouldn’t—sign a document he hadn’t read. He insisted on reviewing the agreement back in his office.
“The document was for a deal, purporting to give a grant of one billion US dollars to allegedly grow three billion trees,” he stated.
Muturi’s refusal highlights not only his personal stand but also the fragility of institutional processes under pressure from the highest office.
A Suspicious Grant and Legal Red Flags
The Ksh129 billion deal was allegedly pitched as a grant to support Kenya’s ambitious 15 Billion Tree Planting Initiative—a campaign launched by President Ruto in December 2022 to combat climate change and restore the country’s ecosystem.
The plan aims to raise forest cover from 12% to 30% by 2032. However, Muturi cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of the funding mechanism.
“I told them the $1 billion can only be by way of a grant, but it cannot come directly to the Ministry,” Muturi emphasized. “Under the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act Section 47, it must go through the National Treasury. But they were trying to avoid this. Yet it’s money coming from abroad.”
This bypassing of protocol signals more than mere administrative error. It suggests an intentional effort to sidestep financial regulations that protect public interest.
Muturi, who previously served as Kenya’s Attorney General, knows the law intimately. His insistence on due process directly challenged Ruto’s alleged attempt at pushing the deal outside the boundaries of legal oversight.
