President Ruto sacks Muturi in new cabinet reshuffle

President William Ruto has finally cracked the whip in his cabinet, where Justin Muturi has been shown the door.

Making changes within his administration that would affect the Cabinet’s membership, President Ruto sacked Muturi from the Public Service Ministry, where he had served since September 2024.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has been removed from office in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by President William Ruto.

The decision comes just a day after the President openly criticized Muturi, calling him “incompetent” during his tenure as Attorney General.

“His Excellency the president has today instituted further changes to the senior ranks of the executive within Cabinet. By the Presidential action, the Cabinet is set to achieve its constitutional full strength,” read a statement from Chief of Staff Felix Koskei on Wednesday.

For the first time, Ruto publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Muturi on Tuesday.

During a state Iftar dinner, Ruto criticized the former AG for his handling of legal matters concerning the Waqf, an Islamic endowment fund meant for religious and charitable purposes.

“I had a problem with the AG who was there before, he was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out within months,” Ruto said.

The President was responding to concerns from Muslim leaders who had raised questions about delays in operationalizing the fund, despite the existence of the Waqf Act (2022).

Muturi, however, dismissed the accusations, stating that the law does not mention the creation of a Muslim Endowment Fund.

“Under the Waqf Act No.8 of 2022, there’s no provision for a ‘Muslim Endowment Fund.’ It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” he responded.

Growing Isolation in Cabinet

In recent months, Muturi had increasingly found himself at odds with the administration, particularly over his stance on abductions and enforced disappearances.

Since January, he had spoken out against extrajudicial killings and called for accountability. He also revealed that he had sought formal permission to skip Cabinet meetings until the matter was addressed.

“Attending Cabinet meetings is mandatory unless one has permission from the President, which is what I sought,” he said on Citizen TV, emphasizing that his absence was not an act of defiance.

Muturi had not attended any Cabinet meetings since January, the same month his son, Lesly Muturi, was kidnapped.

After the abduction, Muturi said he met with Ruto, who then contacted National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Noordin Haji, leading to his son’s release.

Despite speculation about his future in government, Muturi had previously dismissed claims that he planned to resign.

“I’m still in government because I’m in that coalition, and secondly, I participated actively in campaigning for Kenya Kwanza in the 2022 General Elections, and therefore, I’m perfectly in my right to be in government,” he said.

Muturi was the first Attorney General under the Kenya Kwanza administration before being reassigned to the Public Service Ministry. His exit marks the latest shakeup in Ruto’s government.