NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has refuted claims by President William Ruto that he was fired for failing to attend Cabinet meetings, instead asserting that his dismissal was linked to his strong stance against extra-judicial killings.
In a statement responding to Ruto’s televised remarks on March 31 at Sagana State Lodge, Muturi said his decision to skip Cabinet meetings was deliberate, as he was protesting the government’s failure to address enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
“It will be recalled that on January 12 this year, I issued a press statement condemning rampant abductions and extra-judicial killings in the country,” Muturi stated. “I called upon the government to rise to the occasion, release those held in captivity, and bring the perpetrators to book.”
Following his remarks, Muturi was summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to record a statement with the Kilimani office, purportedly because the matter was under investigation.
Skipping Cabinet Meetings in Protest
Muturi detailed how he chose not to attend three Cabinet meetings this year, arguing that the government had ignored his concerns.
“The first Cabinet meeting of the year was on January 21 at Kakamega State Lodge. Upon reviewing the agenda, I realized that there was no mention of abductions and extra-judicial killings, despite the President himself committing to addressing the matter at a public rally in Homa Bay on December 27, 2024,” he said.
Muturi claims that he formally requested to be excused from the meeting, writing to the President through the Secretary to the Cabinet on January 20, 2025.
The second Cabinet meeting, held on February 11, also lacked any discussion on extra-judicial killings, Muturi said.
He wrote directly to the President reiterating his concerns, stating that he would not attend any future meetings until the issue was placed on the agenda.
The third Cabinet meeting took place on March 11 at State House, Nairobi.
Once again, extra-judicial killings were absent from the agenda, prompting Muturi to write yet another letter to the President on March 10, emphasizing the need for government action.
“To date, the President has never responded to any of my letters, which clearly indicates that the matter of abductions and extra-judicial killings is not worthy of his attention or that of the Cabinet,” he lamented.
Disputing Ruto’s Claims
Muturi also dismissed Ruto’s assertion that the issue had been discussed in Cabinet and resolved, saying he regularly received official Cabinet dispatches but never saw any mention of extra-judicial killings.
“There is no doubt that I was sacked because of my stand on the abductions and extra-judicial killings and not because of the so-called absconding of Cabinet meetings,” Muturi declared.
I DID NOT ABSCOND, RUTO FIRED ME OVER MY STAND ON EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGSThe President in a televised interview on the night of 31st March 2025 at Sagana State lodge stated that I was relieved of my duties for failing to attend cabinet meetings. I would wish to respond as
