Cabinet Secretary nominee for Public Service and Human Capital Management, Justin Muturi, clarified that he resigned from his position as Attorney General rather than being dismissed by President William Ruto, as widely reported.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Sunday, August 4, 2024, Muturi explained that his position had become untenable, prompting his resignation to allow President Ruto to reorganize his Cabinet.
“It is true that I resigned, and there were reasons for that decision. As you would expect, there was some disquiet at the National Executive level and in the country.
The honorable thing to do at that particular time was to take a route provided for in law, allowing the President an opportunity to reorganize his Cabinet as he desired,” Muturi explained.
Justin Muturi: It is true that I resigned, and there were reasons. There had been some disquiet and the only honourable thing to do at that time was to take a route as provided for in the law.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/xdXuQkQitF
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
Muturi also defended his tenure as Attorney General prior to his resignation. He told the committee members that he had enjoyed a cordial working relationship with various government organs and dismissed claims that his legal advisories had been ignored during his 20-month tenure.
However, the Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee informed the committee that he was sometimes compelled to give dissenting opinions to ministries he considered to be in the wrong.
“That story that advisories were not being taken was not correct. The office gives advisories in respect to many issues, in fact the office gives legal advisory opinions to county governments.
“I cannot remember which one was not never implemented if there is anything that perhaps was not implemented could have been the things that we advise ministries because the Office of the Attorney General is a signatory to every Cabinet memo,” Muturi stated.
“On occasions we had to return many memos to various ministries because they would bring requests which are so wrong. Because some Cabinet Secretaries argued that the Office of the Attorney General was a morgue,” he added.
Muturi emphasised that the public service cannot employ every Kenyan. Further, he noted that it cannot absorb all interns posted in various ministries and state departments.
He, however, indicated that the government has the responsibility to grow the economy to spur employment opportunities.
“It is not right to assume that the government can employ every Kenyan who has gone through school, but on the other hand, the government has a responsibility to grow the economy of this country and attract young Kenyans,” Muturi stated.
Justin Muturi: Every part of Kenya deserves to serve in the civil service. We need policies and programmes that allow absorption, but we must look for ways to do that.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/cryE7n1yeA
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
Moreover, Muturi argued that there is a need to streamline processes to end skewed recruitments in various government agencies.
“The recruitment process has been opaque; we have seen reports on skewed placements. We must ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.”
Justin Muturi: The recruitment process has been opaque, we have seen reports on skewed placements. We must ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/SFJWIpbQsW
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
