Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi was notably absent during the first Cabinet meeting of 2025, held at the State Lodge in Kakamega on Tuesday and chaired by President William Ruto.
The meeting resulted in key decisions, including the consolidation of 42 state corporations into 20 to reduce costs. All members of Ruto’s Cabinet attended the meeting except Muturi, whose absence follows his recent break with the government over allegations of involvement in abductions.
On January 12, Muturi called a press conference at Serena Hotel in Nairobi, where he accused the government of complicity in the abduction of citizens. He revealed that his son had been abducted on June 22, 2024, and claimed to have firsthand experience of government interference. Muturi alleged that President Ruto personally intervened to secure his son’s release after hours of fruitless efforts to engage senior officials.
During the press conference, Muturi recounted hearing President Ruto question National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss Noordin Haji about the detention of his son. He claimed Haji confirmed the boy’s custody and released him shortly after Ruto’s direct instructions.
Muturi’s remarks sparked widespread public debate and prompted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to summon him to provide a statement. Government officials criticized his statements as reckless, citing concerns about their implications for national security.
