Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has reaffirmed his decision to boycott Cabinet meetings, citing the government’s failure to prioritize rising cases of abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Speaking in Mombasa during the opening of a State Parties Assessment Tool (SPAT) sensitization training at the Kenya School of Government, Muturi disclosed that he had formally written to President William Ruto, requesting to be excused from Cabinet sessions until the matter is urgently addressed.
Muturi warned that continued silence on these human rights abuses could be seen as tacit approval by the Cabinet. “If these issues are not discussed, it will appear that the government condones such atrocities. Our administration promised to protect and uphold the Constitution, and that includes safeguarding citizens’ lives,” he said.
He called for decisive government action to investigate and eliminate the perpetrators behind the wave of enforced disappearances and killings, noting that many Kenyans have suffered silently. “If given a chance, victims would share harrowing accounts. We cannot ignore their pain,” he added.
Amid mounting pressure to resign, Muturi maintained he would not step down, challenging defenders of the status quo to reconsider their position. “I will not resign for standing against evil. If anything, those enabling these injustices should leave office,” he declared.
At the Mombasa event, signs of a rift with the administration were evident. Unlike the usual pomp surrounding Cabinet Secretaries, Muturi arrived with a small team, without county commissioners or security officials. His low-key arrival fueled speculation about his strained ties with the government.
However, Muturi remained unfazed. “I’m here to work, not play politics. It’s not mandatory for county commissioners or security chiefs to accompany me,” he remarked.
