Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has narrated how President William Ruto convinced him to take up the Attorney General position after declining the role several times.
Muturi, who spoke during an interview on NTV on Friday morning, revealed that he initially rejected the government position due to the demanding nature of the job.
However, moments after declining the offer, Muturi disclosed that President Ruto sent the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang'ula, to convince him to take the role.
Muturi recalled holding a private meeting with Wetang'ula in Karen, Nairobi, where they discussed the Attorney General position. However, despite the meeting, Muturi claimed he did not accept the offer.
“Wetangula told me he had been sent by the President to make me accept the position of the Attorney General, but I told him I had already rejected the offer. I told him that I feared taking up a job that would not allow me to exercise my freedom,” Muturi recalled.
A day after botched talks with Wetang'ula, Muturi reportedly received an invitation from President Ruto at State House, where the two leaders held a closed-door meeting.
During the meeting, Muturi revealed that Ruto pleaded with him to take up the role, but he remained adamant, opting for a different cabinet role. However, after several minutes of deliberation, he finally accepted the offer.
“We went to his office, we went into the inner office and sat down for a cup of tea. He told me he had not finished with me and pleaded with me to take the job of the Attorney General, but I told him I wanted to relax,” Muturi commented.
“So he told me that he had very many lawyer friends, but he only wanted me in the position. I told him I was hesitant because if at some point he did something I was not comfortable with, it would lead to conflict,” he added.
Muturi, who previously served in different capacities within President William Ruto's administration, has been a great critic of the government, accusing it of allegedly orchestrating the forced disappearances of youthful Kenyans.
On March 26, he was sacked from his cabinet position and replaced with Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Ruku, who currently awaits National Assembly approval to formally take over the role.
Recently, Muturi dismissed President Ruto's claims that he was fired for incompetence, reiterating that the Head of State sacked him for asking the government to address the prevalent abduction issues in the country.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, April 2, Muturi stated that his persistent calls for an end to abductions did not sit well with Ruto, who decided to sack him as a punishment for his vocal stance on extrajudicial killings.
