Muturi to boycott Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour

By Wanderi Kamau

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has declared that he will not accompany President William Ruto during his upcoming Mt Kenya tour, scheduled to begin on March 31, 2025.

Muturi, a former National Assembly Speaker and a key figure in Mt Kenya politics, made the remarks on Saturday, March 22, 2025, after a meeting with the Kikuyu Council of Elders in Kiambu County.

“I just don’t follow the President. Even when Uhuru [Kenyatta] was President, it was never my practice or habit to follow him whenever he went,” Muturi said. “You know, as a President, he has his schedule of work. I also have my schedule of work… when I was a Speaker, even now. Unless it is something that touches the Ministry I am in, I have no business trooping around to follow the President.”

A growing rift with the Ruto administration

Muturi’s remarks come amid growing speculation about his strained relationship with the Ruto administration. In recent weeks, he has skipped at least two Cabinet meetings, signaling discontent within the government. While he has not openly declared a fallout with Ruto, his absence from key government functions has raised eyebrows.

Political analysts suggest that Muturi’s refusal to attend Cabinet meetings may be linked to internal tensions within Ruto’s administration, particularly regarding governance and policy issues affecting Mt Kenya. His decision to boycott the President’s tour adds to the speculation that all is not well between him and the head of state.

Newsflash has learnt that several MPs have also vowed to boycott Ruto’s tour in the region. Among them are those allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Condemnation of Ruto over wave of abductions

Recently, Muturi made headlines when he openly criticized the government following a wave of abductions and enforced disappearances across the country. He called out security agencies for failing to curb the alarming trend, indirectly holding President Ruto’s administration responsible for the deteriorating security situation.

“Kenya is not a police state, and we cannot allow a situation where citizens live in fear because of a few rogue elements. Security agencies must uphold the rule of law and ensure that every Kenyan is safe,” Muturi said in a recent public address.

His strong stance on security issues has been seen as a bold move that distances him from Ruto’s leadership style, further fueling speculation that he may be taking a different political direction.

Muturi: “I will not resign”

Despite the tensions, Muturi has made it clear that he has no intention of resigning from his position as Public Service Cabinet Secretary. His insistence on staying put suggests that he is willing to push back against internal pressures within the government.

“If someone wants me out, they can remove me. But I will not resign. I am here to serve Kenyans, and that is what I will continue doing,” he stated.