NAIROBI, Kenya – Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has issued a scathing rebuke of the government over a surge in abductions and extrajudicial killings, taking an unprecedented swipe at President William Ruto.
Speaking at the City Mortuary, where the bodies of two young men abducted in Mlolongo last December were discovered, Muturi condemned the government’s failure to curb enforced disappearances.
He described the killings as a national crisis that demands immediate action.
“This is murder most foul. At this point, the country must pause everything else and address this issue,” he declared. “How can we discuss the economy when young people are being abducted and killed? Who are we building the economy for?”
CS Muturi: It’s not right that parents and relatives can stay for periods in excess of 40 days looking for their loved ones and you sit somewhere claiming that you’re discussing matters of the economy. Economy for who if you’re killing and abducting the young ones?
A Government at War with Its People?
Muturi accused the government of failing in its fundamental duty to protect citizens, highlighting that extrajudicial killings had become normalized.
His criticism comes amid growing concerns over Kenya’s human rights record, with civil society groups documenting a worrying pattern of enforced disappearances.
During his 2022 presidential campaign, Ruto vowed to end forced disappearances, yet, according to Muturi, these incidents persist under his leadership.
“The buck must stop somewhere. Mr. President, I am calling upon you to immediately order an end to these abductions and initiate an inquiry into these killings,” he urged.
Call for Independent Investigation
Muturi proposed establishing a commission of inquiry involving the Law Society of Kenya, religious leaders, and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
“The families of the victims deserve the truth. We must expose those behind these heinous acts and ensure justice is served,” he said.
His remarks come in the wake of revelations that his own son, Leslie Muturi, was allegedly abducted by National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers before being released on orders from President Ruto.
Despite his sharp criticism of the government he serves, Muturi dismissed calls for his resignation, asserting that his primary duty is to speak out against injustice.
“Resignation is a side issue. What matters is that I am in government and demanding accountability,” he stated.
Muturi also criticized Kenya’s diplomatic focus, questioning why the government is involved in conflict resolution efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo while failing to address killings within its own borders.
“The number of people who have died is so high that it should prick the conscience of any right-thinking leader,” he lamented.
