Muturi accuses Ruto of using incompetence claims to distract him from abductions case
Former Attorney General Justin Muturi, who was recently sacked by President William Ruto as the Public Service Cabinet Secretary, has accused the head of state of trying to divert him from pursuing the case of abductions and extrajudicial killings in the country.
Speaking on Friday, April 4, 2025, during an interview with one of the local radio stations, Muturi said that Ruto intentionally termed him as fairly incompetent to make him start defending himself.
According to Muturi, President Ruto’s intention is to create a back-and-forth between them.
He went ahead to argue that he does not have to defend himself since his record speaks for itself.
“Fortunately, he referred to the issue of incompetence with regard to my duties as the attorney general, and that said, I believe the president’s intention in making that accusation is to divert me from pursuing this issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings. He wants me to begin defending myself so that it becomes a back-and-forth between him and me. I don’t have to defend myself about that. The record is there for everybody to see,” Muturi said.
Muturi on Ruto commending him
He further pointed out that Ruto had, in April 2024, during the launching of the 24th supplement of the Kenya Law at Safari Park Hotel, commended him about what he had been able to do.
This, Muturi says, was because the president had noticed that he was helping in actualizing the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
“First of all, on the day we launched the 24th supplement of the Kenya Law in April of last year, which was last launched in 1999 at Safari Park, the same William Ruto was commending me, full of praise about what I had been able to do because he saw we were actualizing our manifesto, but never mind that because that is the area I don’t want to go because William Ruto wants to take me so that I am defending myself,” he said.
Ruto’s remarks against Muturi
Ruto, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, while addressing concerns raised by Muslim leaders during Iftar at State House, promised to expedite the establishment of Waqf.
He blamed Muturi for the delay while saying he was fairly incompetent. The Head of State, however, hailed the current Attorney General Dorcas Odour, indicating that she had the acumen to push through in the operationalization of an endowment fund, which has an Act in place.
“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 Wakf will be sorted out within months,” Ruto stated.
Muturi fires back
The remarks prompted Muturi to respond almost immediately. He, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, fired back at his then boss, saying that he was pushing for the establishment of the Muslim Endowment Fund without following due process.
According to Muturi, the bone of contention was the establishment of Waqf, a commission to be in charge of Islamic endowments.
In his statement shared on X, Muturi maintained that there was no legal framework supporting the establishment of the endowment under the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022.
He further elaborated that the said Islamic endowment could only be managed by the Waqf Commission.
“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 Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi wrote on X.
