By Joshua Narkash
President William Ruto has opened up about the reasons behind the dismissal of Justin Muturi as the Attorney General (AG), revealing that behind-the-scenes challenges led to the decision to transfer him from the role to a cabinet secretary position before ultimately firing him.
In a candid statement, President Ruto explained that he had initially appointed Muturi as AG with the belief that he would serve effectively in the position. However, Muturi expressed concerns about his ability to perform due to his long absence from legal practice after transitioning from a magistrate to a Member of Parliament and, subsequently, the Speaker of the National Assembly.
“I gave Muturi a job to be the attorney general. He told me that because he had not practised law for a long time since he was a magistrate, went to parliament, and became a speaker, he would not be able to do it. After some time, I saw that, for sure, he was not able to do the job. Maybe it was my mistake because I persuaded him to take the job,” said President Ruto.
The president further revealed that, recognizing Muturi's struggle, he decided to change his position and offer him a ministerial role, which he hoped would be better suited to his skills and experience.
Despite this shift, Muturi’s tenure in the cabinet was short-lived, and he was relieved of his duties following the June 2024 Gen-Z-led protests, which saw President Ruto dismiss his entire cabinet. Muturi, during his time as AG, had also clashed with the president over the establishment of the Muslim Endowment Fund (Wakf), an issue that seemed to deepen the rift between them.
In his response to Muturi’s dismissal, President Ruto acknowledged that his previous Attorney General had been “fairly incompetent” in handling key issues, particularly in relation to the Wakf matter. However, Ruto reassured the public that the current AG, a “very competent lady,” would ensure that the issues surrounding the Wakf would be sorted out within a few months.
“I had a problem with the AG who was there before; she was fairly competent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Wakf will be sorted out within months,” President Ruto concluded.
The dismissal of Muturi and his subsequent replacement with a new AG has sparked discussions, particularly regarding the handling of the Wakf Fund and other sensitive legal matters within the administration. Ruto’s remarks today shed light on the internal dynamics that shaped his decisions.
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