Justin Muturi Says Security Withdrawal Linked to Political Stance

• Apr 08, 2025

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi says his security detail was withdrawn on Monday night without any official explanation. The former National Assembly Speaker believes the move may be linked to his recent criticism of President William Ruto’s leadership.

“The security team was withdrawn yesterday at night. I was not given any explanation as to why they were withdrawn, but I suspect it is because of my political stance,” Muturi told The Standard. He added that his security personnel were instructed not to report for duty because he is allegedly “fighting the government.”

Although he acknowledged that the withdrawal of security is not an issue to raise alarm over, Muturi said the action contradicts constitutional values. “If the move was meant to intimidate me, it won’t,” he stated.

Muturi’s remarks come amid growing tension between him and President Ruto. The fallout between the two has become increasingly public, with both trading accusations of corruption and incompetence. In a recent media interview, Muturi sharply criticized the president, saying, “I think William Ruto is actually unfit for the position of the President of the Republic of Kenya. I have sadly come to that conclusion. He is irredeemably corrupt.”

Muturi, who previously served as Speaker of the National Assembly, is legally entitled to two armed bodyguards under the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act of 2015. However, the law requires the officers to be assigned upon request, and the reasons for their withdrawal, if any, are not always made public.

He is not the first high-ranking official to experience such treatment. In 2023, Chief Justice Martha Koome’s security was withdrawn, an action she strongly criticized as unconstitutional. That same year, former President Uhuru Kenyatta also had his security detail scaled down. Then Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome defended the decision, saying it was not politically motivated and that changes were made to align with ranks and responsibilities.

Muturi’s case adds to a growing list of senior officials whose security arrangements have been altered under unclear circumstances, sparking fresh debate over whether such moves are driven by policy or politics.