NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has claimed his government-provided security was abruptly withdrawn in what he alleges is a retaliatory move by President William Ruto’s administration.
Muturi, who was dismissed from the Cabinet on March 26 after growing increasingly critical of the government, told reporters on Tuesday that two police officers assigned to him were recalled Monday night.
“My security detail was withdrawn at around 7:30 p.m. yesterday. The officers, attached to me as former National Assembly Speaker, were instructed not to report for duty today,” Muturi said. He claimed they were told he no longer deserved protection because he was “fighting the government.”
“If this is another attempt to intimidate me, they’ve dialed the wrong number,” he added.
Last night at around 7:30PM, my security detail was withdrawn. The two officers who had been assigned to me owing to my previous position as Speaker of the National Assembly were instructed not to report on duty today. If this is yet another attempt to cow me into silence,
Muturi’s rift with Ruto’s administration deepened last year over the alleged abductions of youth linked to anti-government protests—a crisis that hit close to home when his own son was briefly kidnapped.
The former CS said he stopped attending Cabinet meetings, demanding the issue be prioritized, but was met with silence.
Ruto, however, framed Muturi’s absence as insubordination, leading to his replacement by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku.
Since his dismissal, Muturi has escalated his criticism, accusing the president of dishonesty, corruption, and bullying dissenters within his government.
Security withdrawals have been used before against perceived government critics, raising concerns about political retaliation.
Muturi’s case adds to growing scrutiny over whether state resources are being weaponized to silence opposition.
