Muturi Accuses President Ruto of Ruling Cabinet Through Fear and Intimidation
Drawing parallels between Ruto and former President Daniel arap Moi, Muturi argued that the current President has little regard for institutions and appears to prefer a return to imperial presidency.
Former Public Service Officer Justin Muturi [Left] and President William Ruto. Photo/Courtesy.
By Robert Assad
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has made explosive claims that President William Ruto controls his Cabinet by instilling fear, suppressing dissent, and operating with an iron fist behind closed doors.
In a revealing interview on NTV’s Fixing the Nation, Muturi painted a picture of a fearful executive where ministers are allegedly too intimidated to express themselves freely or even communicate with former colleagues.
According to Muturi, the environment within the Cabinet is so tense that some Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) are hesitant to answer his calls—even on WhatsApp—fearing backlash from the Head of State.
“Many of them are very timid. They would not want to speak. In fact, some of them don’t want to pick up my calls, even on WhatsApp. They are too scared that they may be found to have spoken to me,” he revealed.
He further stated that some CSs have resorted to indirect communication, asking him to use intermediaries to reach them.
“I know others who are telling me, ‘Please get somebody to call on your behalf so we can talk through them’… What does that tell you?” he posed, suggesting that the level of fear in the Cabinet is unprecedented.
Muturi, who previously served as the National Assembly Speaker and represented Siakago as a Member of Parliament, described President Ruto as a leader with dual personalities.
“The one who presents himself to the public is a completely different character from the one who sits behind in the office and crafts stuff, and that person is quite a dangerous character,” he claimed.
Drawing parallels between Ruto and former President Daniel arap Moi, Muturi argued that the current President has little regard for institutions and appears to prefer a return to imperial presidency.
“He has disdain for institutions, and that is why he wants to push everything even in Cabinet,” he said.
Muturi added that in projects where President Ruto has a personal stake, he dominates discussions and steers conversations to stifle dissent.
“A CS will make a presentation, and then Ruto will take over and begin to explain… He will start instilling fear slowly, saying, ‘You know, no coming late…’”
The remarks have sparked renewed concerns about governance and transparency within the highest levels of Kenya’s leadership.
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