Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has refuted President William Ruto’s claim that he was dismissed for absconding duty, stating that his removal was a direct result of his insistence on addressing abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Speaking to the media, Muturi stated that he had written to the President requesting that the issue be placed on the Cabinet agenda for discussion and resolution.
However, he alleged that his letters were ignored, signaling that the matter was not a priority for the Head of State.
“I told the President in a letter that the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings should be prioritized and placed on the agenda of future Cabinet meetings. To date, the President has never responded to my letters, clearly indicating that he does not consider the matter worthy of his attention,” he said.
Justin Muturi: I told the President in a letter that the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings should be prioritized and placed on the agenda of future Cabinet meetings. Ladies and gentlemen, to date, the President has never responded to my letters, clearly indicating… pic.twitter.com/nauksaXtIj
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) April 2, 2025
Muturi further revealed that he deliberately skipped three Cabinet meetings after reviewing the agenda and realizing that the issue had not been included. He maintained that his absence was a form of protest and not an act of dereliction of duty, as alleged by the President.
“I said that I would not attend Cabinet meetings until the issues of abductions and extrajudicial killings were included in the agenda for discussion and resolution,” Muturi stated.
Dismissing Ruto’s assertion that he disbanded police squads accused of enforced disappearances, Muturi argued that the continued reports of abductions cast doubt on the effectiveness of such claims.
Kauli Ya Justin Muturi
Justin Muturi: The inference that one draws from my sacking is that raising the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings must be terribly annoying to the president. #NTVAdhuhuri @FredMuitiriri pic.twitter.com/6zkUxzO6bh
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) April 2, 2025
“The inference that one draws from my sacking is that raising the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings must be terribly annoying to the President,” he remarked.
Muturi remained defiant in the face of his removal, declaring that attempts to silence him would not work.
“If their goal was to silence me, then they’ve dialed the wrong number,” he asserted.
Justin Muturi: The question we are all asking is this: If the President knew of the existence of such a squad that committed heinous crimes, should its members not face the full weight of the law for the crimes they have committed? pic.twitter.com/GWyQ05SLx7
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) April 2, 2025
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny over Kenya’s record on enforced disappearances and police-related killings, which have drawn concern from human rights groups and the affected families. The government has yet to respond to his allegations regarding the circumstances of his dismissal.
