Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi now alleges that President William Ruto has been exerting undue control over his Cabinet, preventing Cabinet Secretaries from openly speaking on ills in government.
In a damning revelation on Friday morning, the recently fired CS exposed his former boss, alleging that the Head of State is an embodiment of late President Daniel Moi’s imperial rule.
Muturi opined that the president would occasionally have his way in cabinet meetings by bullishly infusing fear to ensure his subordinates bent to his will in a project without question.
Muturi, who briefly served as Attorney General before being reassigned to the Public Service docket, claims that in projects where President Ruto has vested interests, it is either “his way or the highway.” Even when such issues are raised in Cabinet meetings, Muturi alleges that the President uses non-verbal cues to signal his stance, which he interprets as a form of intimidation.
“With the experience I’ve gained from working with President Ruto, which was my desire, after serving as Speaker for 10 years, MP for two terms, I wanted to serve in the national executive. I think Ruto is a person with two 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,” Muturi said in an interview with NTV’s Fixing the Nation.
He went on, “Ruto is a true example of Daniel Moi, no wonder he campaigned against the current Constitution because I think he enjoys a situation where we can go to an Imperial presidency. He has disdain for institutions, and that is why he wants to push everything even in Cabinet…if you want to know somewhere he has an interest, a CS will make a presentation and then Ruto will take over, and begins now to explain to make sure there is no dissent. And he will begin to instil fear slowly, saying, ‘You know, no coming late’…”
The former CS further insinuated that most Cabinet members were afraid of the president, to the extent of preferring Committee meetings chaired by the deputy president, where they could at least express themselves.
“Today, (In Cabinet) he makes it impossible to have a meaningful conversation. In fact, people enjoy going to Cabinet Committee meetings chaired by the DP (Rigathi and Kindiki) because they can share their ideas and speak their mind,” he said.
“Before Ruto, you just have to know he has expressed this position and he is looking at you, making suggestions…the look he gives you tells you that in this one, you have no options. He is holding the Cabinet hostage.”
When asked whether there are current Cabinet members who hold similar opinions about the President, Muturi dismissed the possibility, saying they were too scared to even talk to him (Muturi), as it could be seen as insubordination by their boss.
He even alleged that some CSs were asking him (Muturi) to use intermediaries while talking to them in fear of the president.
“I don’t know…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. Many of the CSs who are there are too scared that they may be found to have spoken to me,’ he said.
“I know others who are telling me, get someone to call on your behalf so we can talk through them…what does that tell you? Ruto has instilled such fear in his entire Cabinet that people don’t want to speak.”
