President William Ruto has sacked Public Service CS Justin Muturi in the latest Cabinet changes.
In the notice dated Wednesday, March 26, Ruto nominated Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku as the new CS for Public Service while Hannah Wendot was nominated to the Ministry of Gender and Culture.
Former Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale was transferred to the Health Cabinet Ministry, while Deborah Barasa, who previously headed the health docket, was transferred to the Ministry of Environment.
Justin Muturi sacked as President Ruto nominates Geoffrey Ruku as Public Service CS. Photo: Courtesy.
“His Excellency the president has today instituted further changes to the senior ranks of the executives within Cabinet. By the Presidential Action, the Cabinet is set to achieve its constitutional full strength,” read part of the released statement.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the changes are aimed at bolstering the cabinet’s capacity to continue to steer Kenya’s socio economic transformation.
Hannah Webot and Geoffrey Ruku will undergo parliamentary scrutiny.
If approved, their names will be forwarded to the Head of State for appointment.
Muturi’s firing comes hours after the Head of State expressed that he was fairly incompetent in his previous position as the Attorney General.
He accused Muturi of delaying the establishment of a Waqf, an Islamic endowment system that has been the subject of governance debates.
“I had a problem with the AG who was there, he was fairly incompetent. But I now have a very competent lady in that position, and I can assure you that the issues of Waqf will be sorted out in a matter of months,” said Ruto.
In response, Muturi noted there is no provision for a Muslim Endowment Fund under the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022.
The former Public Service CS went further to point out that waqf is managed by the Waqf Commission.
“Under the Waqf Act no.8 of 2022 there’s no provision for a “Muslim Endowment Fund “. It must be understood that a waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi stated.
Muturi served as the Attorney General from October 2022 until July 2024, when President Ruto dissolved his cabinet.
The President later appointed Muturi as the Public Service CS while Dorcas Oduor was appointed as the Attorney General.
Muturi has been a critic of President Ruto’s administration from within, accusing the government of allegedly failing to address the prevalent abduction cases in the country.
