President William Ruto has dismissed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, appointing Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku as his successor. This decision follows Ruto’s recent criticisms of Muturi, whom he labeled “incompetent” during his tenure as Attorney General.
The President’s remarks came just a day before the dismissal, highlighting a growing rift between the two. Muturi had been a vocal critic of the government and had notably skipped several Cabinet meetings. He recently revealed that he formally requested to be excused from attending these meetings until pressing issues, such as abductions and extrajudicial killings, were addressed.
“Attending Cabinet meetings is mandatory unless one has permission from the President, which is what I sought,” Muturi stated in an interview with Citizen TV. He emphasized that his request was not an act of insubordination but rather a necessary step to address vital issues.
The tension between Ruto and Muturi escalated during a state Iftar dinner, where the President responded to concerns from Muslim leaders about delays in implementing the Waqf Act, 2022. Ruto criticized the previous Attorney General’s handling of legal matters related to the establishment of Waqf, asserting, “I had a problem with the AG who was there before, he was fairly incompetent.”
In response, Muturi defended his record, clarifying that while the Waqf Act exists, it does not establish a specific “Muslim Endowment Fund.” He pointed out that a Waqf is fundamentally a personal initiative by individuals of the Muslim faith, managed by the Waqf Commission.
As the Cabinet undergoes this transition, all eyes will be on Ruku as he steps into this pivotal role in the government.
