Muturi: I'll not attend Cabinet meetings until abductions, extra-judicial killings are discussed

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has revealed that he has deliberately been skipping Cabinet meetings to protest the government’s failure to formally address the issue of abductions and extrajudicial killings in the country.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, Muturi disclosed that he has missed three consecutive Cabinet sessions held on January 21, February 11, and the most recent one on March 11.

He noted that he had sought formal exemption from President William Ruto, who chairs the meetings.

"I have written and sought to be excused from attending Cabinet meetings until or unless the agenda of abductions in the country and extrajudicial killings is formally tabled before Cabinet through a Cabinet memorandum," Muturi said.

"The Cabinet, as the highest decision-making body, must express itself and give the country the way forward on these issues."

Muturi dismissed concerns that his absence amounted to insubordination, asserting that his request for exemption was within his rights as a Cabinet member.

"It is not insubordination when you seek to be excused," he said.

"Everybody in this country is aware that there have been many cases discussing these issues. If the Cabinet cannot express itself, debate, and give direction on these matters, then it runs the risk of being condemned as complicit or as condoning these injustices."

Public Service CS Justin Muturi on why he's been skipping cabinet meetings

Muturi: In my case I have written and sought to be excused from attending cabinet meetings until or unless the agenda of abductions and extrajudicial killings is formally tabled before cabinet through a… pic.twitter.com/7j41M6zlFE

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The CS further cited President Ruto’s previous acknowledgement of the issue, referencing remarks made on December 27.

"The President did say that we have had extrajudicial killings. What I expected, and I still expect, is that he should give direction or instruct the relevant Cabinet Secretary to prepare a Cabinet memorandum detailing these issues. These are not simple matters," he said.

Warning

Muturi warned of the dangers of silence on such critical concerns, highlighting recent cases of lawlessness and violence following political protests.

“Failure to discuss this means we risk normalising these issues. Just yesterday, after the Mathare protests, police were nowhere to be seen, and innocent motorists and pedestrians were robbed and attacked," he said.

"I have heard similar reports today from Kangemi. If true, this is extremely dangerous for the country."

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The CS also lamented the lack of response from the President regarding his letters seeking clarity on the matter.

"When you write to the chairman of the Cabinet, you don’t expect the Secretary to respond. You expect a response from the addressee, the President himself. There are families who still don’t know where their loved ones are. This is not something we can just move on from,” he said.

He pointed out the case of Wajir MCA Yussuf Hussein, who was held incommunicado for six months before reappearing, yet the country remained largely silent on the incident.

"We think this is normal? Surely, we must be a different kind of democracy," Muturi lamented.

The CS’s remarks signal growing pressure within government ranks to address concerns over security and human rights violations, even as the administration faces criticism from civil society and opposition leaders over its handling of abductions and extrajudicial killings.