'He is lying!' Muturi disputes Ruto’s claims on his Cabinet exit

Instead, he asserts that his removal was linked to his vocal stance on extrajudicial killings and abductions, issues that he claims have beleaguered President William Ruto’s administration.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Muturi stated that his dismissal was a direct consequence of his persistent calls for the government to address the alarming cases of enforced disappearances and unlawful executions.

“Since my reasons for missing Cabinet meetings are clear, one can conclude that raising concerns about abductions and extrajudicial killings is a highly sensitive issue for the President,” Muturi remarked.

He further alleged that close allies of the President had been advocating for his resignation or removal due to his firm stance on the matter.

Muturi disclosed that he was invited to the last Cabinet meeting held on March 11 at State House but deliberately chose not to attend.

He explained that there was no indication that the agenda would include a discussion on extrajudicial killings and abductions, a subject he had persistently sought to bring to the fore.

According to Muturi, he had written a third letter to the President on March 10, urging him to ensure that the issue was formally addressed in future Cabinet discussions.

“To date, the President has never confirmed receipt or responded to any of my letters regarding abductions and extrajudicial killings,” he said.

“This clearly indicates that the matter is not a priority for the President or the Cabinet.”

Muturi expressed shock at President Ruto’s claim during a televised interview that the issue had been deliberated upon and resolved by the Cabinet.

“I have regularly received Cabinet dispatches after meetings, and I can confirm that this matter has never been discussed,” he stated.

“Like many Kenyans, I was surprised to hear the President assert on live television that the Cabinet had already addressed and resolved it.”

The former CS accused President Ruto of misrepresenting the reasons behind his dismissal, drawing parallels with criticisms on social media about the Head of State’s credibility.

“It is evident that what the President has said regarding my absence from Cabinet meetings is untrue,” Muturi said. “This perhaps aligns with the growing perception on social media that Kenyans increasingly question the accuracy of his statements.”

President Ruto, in a roundtable interview with vernacular media stations on Monday, provided a different account of Muturi’s removal.

He stated that Muturi had initially been appointed as Attorney General but admitted to struggling with the role due to a lack of recent legal practice.

“Muturi himself informed me that he was overwhelmed by the role of Attorney General because he had not been in active legal practice for a long time,” Ruto said. “I decided to reassign him to a different Cabinet portfolio due to our long-standing friendship.”

The President, however, claimed that Muturi’s consistent absence from Cabinet meetings demonstrated defiance, leaving him with no option but to relieve him of his duties.

“I persuaded him to continue working. I reassigned him to another ministry, but he refused to attend Cabinet meetings. Did I fire him, or did he fire himself?” Ruto posed.

Ruto also compared Muturi’s situation to that of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, arguing that he had given multiple opportunities for his associates to redeem themselves.

“I believe in second chances. Even when many leaders opposed my friend Gachagua, I still gave him a chance. The same applied to JB Muturi—I gave him another opportunity despite his struggles as AG,” Ruto explained.

However, the President suggested that Muturi’s departure was ultimately inevitable, noting that he has a pension and would not face financial hardship.

“JB Muturi has a very good pension; he will not suffer or struggle,” Ruto remarked.