Mwaura brushes off Muturi’s criticism and affirms Ruto’s competence
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has defended President William Ruto’s leadership, pushing back against damning remarks made by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General Justin Muturi, who recently questioned the president’s integrity and capacity to govern.
Speaking during a media interview on April 7, 2025, Mwaura dismissed Muturi’s comments as unfair and politically motivated, attributing them to frustration following his exit from government.
“Personally, I’d want to strongly differ with Muturi’s opinion and say there could never be a better person who is able to juggle between politics, governance and leadership at this point in time rather than President Ruto,” he stated.
Mwaura highlighted his long-standing professional relationship with Ruto, dating back to 2006, arguing that Muturi’s sentiments do not reflect the reality of his administration or leadership capacity.
“That is his own opinion, that is his own judgment. I tend to differ because I have worked with President Ruto since 2006, and that is when I got to know him. If there’s a robust process that was ever engaged in making a manifesto — which I was part of — he was at the front and centre of it,” Mwaura stated.
He praised Ruto’s leadership style, describing him as deliberate, hands-on, and committed to long-term solutions for the country, even when such decisions are unpopular.
“I have seen a president who is very keen on fixing the nation, who is deliberate on having serious decisions made around the economy that may be very unpopular but which are going to serve the nation right in the long run,” he said.
Muturi’s criticism
Muturi, who served under President Ruto in his first Cabinet, sparked controversy during a televised interview on April 4, 2025, where he labelled the Head of State as “irredeemably corrupt” and accused him of using state programmes for personal financial gain.
“When I watch William Ruto sometimes talking to members of the cabinet and saying, ‘I do not want to see corruption in my government,’ then I start wondering, ‘Who is this talking?’” Muturi said.
“He is absolutely, irredeemably corrupt.”
He cited a 2023 encounter during COP28 in Dubai, where he claims Ruto pressured him to sign a billion-dollar deal with Russian oligarchs under unclear terms.
“On the day we were coming from India, after COP28, we flew to India for a state visit. At the time I landed in Dubai, Ruto was calling me: ‘Those people, those Russians, they are there in Dubai; you need to sign those documents.’ But I said I have just landed at the airport; I am in transit,” Muturi recalled.
According to him, the deal involved a purported $1 billion grant to support Kenya’s tree-planting initiative. However, he refused to sign the documents at the airport, insisting on reviewing them in his office.
He also raised concerns about efforts to bypass the National Treasury, contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.
“You know, whenever William Ruto comes up with a programme, it is for money-making,” Muturi claimed, accusing the president of using public initiatives for personal enrichment.
