Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has alleged that President William Ruto attempted to entice him into accepting the role of Attorney General after he initially declined the offer.
Speaking during an interview on NTV‘s “Fixing the Nation” on Friday, April 4, Muturi said President Ruto “tried to entice him to take up the AG role by highlighting the immense power that comes with approving multibillion-shilling government contracts.”
Muturi, who served as National Assembly Speaker for ten years before joining Ruto’s Cabinet, said he turned down the President’s initial offer, citing his long tenure as Speaker and a preference for a different Cabinet role.
According to him, a few days after rejecting the offer, he met with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who told him he had been sent by President Ruto to persuade him to reconsider the offer.
“When he offered me the position of the Attorney General, I turned it down. I told him I have been Speaker for ten years, too much reading, so I told him I just want to be in the Cabinet whatever ministry, I did not choose,” he said.
“Two, three days later my friend Moses Wetang’ula calls me, we meet somewhere in Karen in some hotel one evening. Wetang’ula told me he had been sent by the President to plead with me to accept the position. I told him my reservation is one: I’m a stickler for the law and I fear taking up a job where I cannot exercise my freedom to interpret the law as I know it.”
Muturi said President Ruto summoned him again—this time at State House—just before unveiling his new Cabinet.
Also Read: Ruto Sacks Justin Muturi
Muturi alleges Ruto enticed him to be Attorney General
He further alleged that after a group meeting with other prospective Cabinet Secretaries, Ruto asked him to stay behind for a private discussion.
Still, Muturi said that he declined, reiterating his concerns about being placed in a position that could compromise his legal principles.
It was during this conversation, Muturi claimed, that the President hinted at the authority and influence the Attorney General wields—especially when it comes to major government deals.
According to the former CS, the President highlighted that every government contract worth Ksh5 billion and above must be approved by the AG.
“During that conversation he himself told me you know JB this is going to be quite a heavy responsibility because every CS or government ministry will not get into certain legal arrangements especially where there is monetary value beyond Ksh5 billion. He knows that William is very good and understands procurement matters.”
“I don’t know whether he was trying to entice me, that you know in any government contract beyond Ksh5 billion it must be approved by the Attorney General. He thought that it was going to be an enticement, but I told him my worry is you should allow me to exercise my freedom.”
Links Ruto to multibillion deals, accuses him of corruption
At the same time, Muturi called out the president accusing him of claiming to fight corruption while he allegedly secretly conducts corrupt deals worth billions.
Also Read: Muturi Issues Warning to President Ruto
The former CS alleged that the president portrays different characters from the one in public and the one behind closed doors.
While accusing Ruto of being corrupt, he claimed that the Head of State attempted to arm-twist him to hurriedly sign a $1 billion (approximately Ksh129 billion) deal with unidentified Russian Oligarchs on planting trees.
The former CS explained that the deal would have contravened the law, highlighting that such funds must go through the National Treasury and should not be channeled directly to a Ministry.
“I was invited to attend the COP 28 in Dubai 2023. During that same time, some Russian oligarchs had offered to invest $1 billion here in Kenya. I landed in Dubai and received a phone call from Ruto, who told me that the Russians were waiting at the airport, and I needed to sign the documents. I declined, saying I needed to review the documents in the office,” he revealed.
“The deal purported to give a grant of $1 billion to allegedly grow a3 billion trees. Whenever Ruto comes up with a project, it’s for moneymaking. So, they bring me a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and I tell them that the $1 billion can only be by a grant but can’t come directly to the ministry. It only goes through the Treasury.”
He revealed that he could provide the supporting documents on softcopy to back his allegations.
Response to Ruto’s claims on his Cabinet exit
The revelations came after the former CS said that he was fired from Cabinet for asking President Ruto to address abductions, dismissing the president’s claim that he disbanded killer police squads.
This was after the President fired him in the latest Cabinet changes, replacing him with current Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Ruku.
While refuting claims that his dismissal was due to poor performance or absenteeism from Cabinet meetings, he asserted that his removal was linked to his vocal stance on extrajudicial killings and abductions, issues that he claimed have beleaguered the ruling administration.
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