Ruto sacks Muturi, faces Mt Kenya in ‘tough’ visit

President William Ruto eventually kicked out rebellious Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi in a mini reshuffle but retained the job in the sacked minister’s clan.

The Cabinet changes came as the President dispatched several allies to the restive Mt Kenya region to prepare the ground ahead of his tour starting next week.

Ruto gave Muturi’s job to Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku — a Muturi ally who was elected on a DP ticket — triggering a by-election that would test his political strength in Mt Kenya.

The widow of Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, Hanna Cheptumo, was also nominated for a Cabinet job as the CS for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage.

In the changes, the President swapped two CSs, moving Deborah Barasa from the controversial Health docket to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.

Aden Duale, who has been the CS in charge of Environment, will now take charge at Afya House, where the government is implementing a multibillion-shilling universal health cover through the Social Health Authority. 

Ruto had postponed Muturi’s sacking to a later date after his Mt Kenya visit.

However, insiders say Muturi provoked the President by firing back after the head of state said he was “fairly incompetent” while serving as Attorney General.

“I had a problem with the AG who was there. He was fairly incompetent, but now I have a very competent lady, and I can assure you the issues of Waqf will be sorted out,” Ruto told Muslim leaders, explaining the delay in the creation of the Muslim Endowment Fund.

Muturi, who has been at loggerheads with Ruto following the abduction of his son by the National Intelligence Service, shot back, saying the Waqf Act does not provide for the creation of a Muslim fund.

“Under the Waqf Act No 8 of 2022, there is no provision for a Muslim Endowment Fund. It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi stated.

As he made the changes, Ruto dispatched MPs, governors and top state officials to prepare the ground for his Mt Kenya visit.

In anticipation of his visit, large billboards welcoming the President have been erected in major towns across Mt Kenya including Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, along Thika Road, and in Embu.

The Star has established that Ruto will be hosting several pro-government MPs from the region at State House today or Friday– a meeting believed to be part of mobilisation to ensure a warm reception.

“It is true, the President will host the legislators from the region either tomorrow (Thursday) or Friday,” a State House source told the Star. The planned State House meeting follows a series of such meetings with the area elected leaders ahead of the visit.

Twice this month, the President has hosted governors and MPs on separate events at State House.

On Monday, Ruto held another meeting with at least five Cabinet Secretaries and 13 Principal Secretaries from the region to finalise preparations.

Eight governors attended the State House meeting, except Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a close ally of Gachagua. Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika was also absent but sent an apology.

The President’s programme, though not officially released, is expected to run throughout the week with a focus on commissioning development projects.

He is expected to hit the ground in the vote-rich region from Tuesday next week – the first visit to the area since the impeachment of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

A schedule seen by the Star indicates Ruto will on Tuesday traverse Laikipia county where he will tour development projects in Rumuruti. In the afternoon, Ruto will commission the Gikamba last mile electrification programme in Kieni.

The following day, the head of state will be in Meru County for a whirlwind of activities, including the commissioning of Nkuene subcounty in Imenti South.

According to the tentative schedule, Ruto’s entourage will cross to the neighbouring Kirinyaga county.

 Some of the projects lined up for launching in Kirinyaga include the flagging off of the AfD/EU/EIB projects in the Kagio market.

On Wednesday, the President will pitch camp in Nyandarua county, starting with Ol Kalou and later in the afternoon, crossing over to Murang’a county.

Last week, State House dispatched Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo to the region for project inspection ahead of the visit.

On Friday, Owalo was in Murang’a, where he conducted an inspection and verification of various national government projects.

“In my capacity as Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive of ce of the President, I joined of cers from the Government Delivery Unit (GDU) on an inspection tour of key national development projects in Murang’a county,” Owalo told the Star on Friday.

The projects Owalo inspected included the Sh312 million Maragua Ridge Irrigation Project in Kamahuha.

Owalo is also scheduled to visit the Sh1.8 billion affordable housing project in Makuyu, Murang’a county, in the course of the week. From Murang’a, the President will head to Tharaka Nithi county, where he will commission last mile connectivity projects.

In the last few days, there have been visible preparations across the region with local leaders actively engaging residents to rally support ahead of the visit. In Gachagua’s home constituency of Mathira, MP Eric Wamumbi has been traversing the constituency rallying residents ahead of the tour.

A massive billboard featuring images of the President, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Wamumbi has been put up in the town, emblazoned with the message “Karibu Mlima” (Welcome to the Mountain).

“We are ready to welcome the President here in Wamunyoro. As Wamunyoro, we have decided to be in the government because it is God who chooses leaders,” Wamumbi said.

“And, therefore, I never want to hear anyone speak ill of that village (Wamunyoro). If anyone has a problem with an individual who comes from there, they should address the person by their name but not the good village of Wamunyoro.”

North MP Geoffrey Ruku said:

“President Ruto is going to Mt Kenya to present his scorecard for the past two years. He will outline what he promised and delivered, focusing on development politics, not tribal or ethnic politics.”

In neighbouring Nyandarua, Woman Representative Faith Gatua has escalated grassroots mobilisation efforts in the county.

Gachagua’s allies have also welcomed the President to the area, challenging him to address thorny issues affecting the Mt Kenya region. Gatanga MP Edward Muriu said the thorny issues touch on political inclusion and economic development.

“We want to welcome the President to the mountain because we gave him 89 per cent of our votes, but we want him to know that nothing has been happening in our region since he was last here,” Muriu said.

“I know I have been labelled as a ‘gitungati’(term used to refer to Gachagua’s allies,) but I’m not in the opposition. If I don’t tell the government when I see things going wrong somewhere, I’ll be failing in my role as an MP.”