Muturi discloses why he had second thoughts on taking AG role in Ruto’s govt
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 15, 2025Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has come out to lift the lid on how the now National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula was sent to him by President William Ruto to convince him to take the Attorney General position just after the 2022 General Elections, after he initially refused to take up the role due to his reservations and the challenges that come with being the AG.
While speaking on a popular podcast aired on the night of Monday, July 14, 2025, Muturi stated that Ruto had wanted him to be the Attorney General, but he had turned down the offer, citing his principles and his strict adherence to the law.
He said he knew the kind of person he was going to deal with, and, having seen what past attorneys general had gone through, he was reluctant.
Wetangula attempts to persuade him
He went on to say that three days later, Moses Wetang’ula—who had been a past friend and roommate in college—was sent to him to convince him to take up the AG role.
But he refused and told Wetang’ula that he is a great stickler for the law and wasn’t sure if indeed Ruto would allow him to do his work as principal advisor to the government independently. Wetang’ula tried to persuade him, but he still refused.
“I told Moses I am a great stickler to the law. I am not sure if the president would allow me to do my job as I should,” JB said.
Three days later, before naming the Cabinet, a meeting was held in the State House. When everyone left, the president told him to stick behind. When he asked why, the president told him that he was not yet through with him.
He continued to convince him to take up the AG role. He went on to tell the president the truth, insisting that he is a great stickler for the law and that:
“I would rather be wrong in arriving at a legal opinion innocently as opposed to making a wrong diagnosis merely because I am supposed to please you. I would rather be a CS,” he added.
His own demands
He went on to tell the president that he had started off his career in the judiciary, went to Parliament as an MP for two terms, and served as speaker for two terms as well.
He now wanted, during his sunset years, to be just a member of the Executive, since it was the only arm of government he hadn’t worked in.
The president further told him that the AG role he was refusing was so critical that even the cabinet secretaries have to seek the attorney general whenever there is a government contract or procurement valued at more than Ksh5 billion.
They have to seek the opinion and concurrence of the AG.
“Even for the AG role you are refusing, the Cabinet ministers have to seek the Attorney General whenever there is a government contract or procurement which is valued at Ksh5 billion and above. They have to seek your opinion and concurrence, and you have to approve,” he went further.
Muturi says that he maintained his stance, saying that this wouldn’t be an incentive for him to accept the role.
He said he would really hate a situation where he has to delay giving an opinion merely because he has to wait for the CS to talk to him.
Ruto’s assurance
But the president told him, “I know you are a stickler for the law,” and that was why he had wanted him to take up the role.
Muturi further told the President that he would only take up the role if the President would assure him that upon taking the role, he would not call him to persuade him to do things which the law does not permit.
The President said, “You have my assurance,” and that is how he ended up being the AG. Ruto went ahead and announced his Cabinet on that understanding.