Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has announced that he will not be accompanying President William Ruto on his upcoming development tour of the Mount Kenya region.
Speaking after a meeting with Kikuyu elders on Saturday, Muturi stated that it was not his duty to follow the President on official visits unless his ministry was directly involved.
He emphasized that even during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, he did not attend all his engagements, as he had his own responsibilities.
“I don’t just follow the President. Even when Uhuru was in office, it was never my habit to follow him everywhere. The President has his schedule, and I have mine, just as I did when I was Speaker and even now,” he said.
Muturi, who has been vocal about cases of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, reiterated his position on the matter. Despite missing over three cabinet meetings since January, he has insisted he will not resign from his position.
He urged the government to take the issue seriously, calling for a commission of inquiry to investigate the claims thoroughly.
“Nobody I mentioned in my statement is denying or even recording a statement challenging what I said. That’s why I believe a commission of inquiry would be the best way to determine the truth,” he added.
During an interview with Citizen TV on March 12, Muturi made it clear that he would not step down voluntarily but was prepared for any decision from the President.
“Staying in cabinet is the prerogative of the appointing authority. I don’t know how long I will last, but I have no illusions about it,” he noted.
He also revealed that he had formally requested to be excused from cabinet meetings until the issue of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings was included in the agenda for discussion.
On January 12, Muturi sparked controversy by alleging that senior government officials were involved in the abduction of his son, Leslie, during the June Gen-Z protests. Since then, he has repeatedly called for accountability, often clashing with members of the administration he serves in.
