Ex-CS Muturi: I skipped cabinet meetings over human rights concerns

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has revealed that he deliberately avoided attending Cabinet meetings because the issue of abductions was not included in the discussions.

Speaking at a press briefing at Ufungamano House on Wednesday, Muturi stated that his absence was a matter of principle rather than neglect of duty.

Muturi disclosed that he did not attend any of the three Cabinet meetings held earlier this year, beginning with the first one on January 21 at Kakamega State Lodge.

"When I received the invitation and the agenda for the Cabinet meeting, I realised that there was no agenda touching on abductions and extrajudicial killings," he said on Wednesday.

"I felt that it would not be fitting for me to attend a Cabinet meeting that did not address such a monumental issue that goes to the core of our constitutional basis and the rule of law,” he added.

The former CS stated that he formally communicated his concerns to President William Ruto through the Secretary to the Cabinet on January 20, 2025, excusing himself from attending the meeting and requesting that the issue of human rights abuses be addressed.

However, he noted that the second Cabinet meeting on February 11, 2025, also failed to include the matter.

"I went through the agenda and found that the issues were still not listed," Muturi said.

"I wrote to the President directly, requesting that the matter be prioritized and placed on the agenda for discussion, debate, and resolution,” he added.

He further revealed that the third Cabinet meeting on March 11, 2025, similarly ignored his concerns.

"Once again, the agenda had no mention of abductions and extrajudicial killings," he stated.

"I wrote to the President, reiterating my position, urging him to prioritise the matter."

Muturi expressed frustration that despite his repeated appeals, he received no response to his letters.

He said he was surprised to hear the President later claim in an interview that the issue had been discussed and resolved in Cabinet.

"I was surprised to hear the President on live television stating that the issue has been discussed in Cabinet and has been resolved," he said.

He also questioned the President’s remarks on the disbandment of a police squad allegedly responsible for abductions and killings.

"If the President knew of the existence of such a squad that committed such heinous crimes, shouldn’t the members of this squad face the full weight of the law?" he asked.

"Why has the President not given the names of those involved so they can be prosecuted for the crimes they committed?"

Muturi raised concerns that abductions were still being carried out and questioned whether another squad was operating similarly to the disbanded one.

He asserted that his dismissal was linked to his stance on abductions and extrajudicial killings rather than his absence from Cabinet meetings.

He vowed to continue pushing for justice and accountability, regardless of the personal consequences.

"I will not stop fighting for justice," Muturi affirmed.

The former CS first spoke publicly about the issue on January 12, 2025, revealing that his son had been abducted.

He later confirmed that his son was released following intervention from the President.