In a dramatic turn of events, the once-close relationship between Kenyan President William Ruto and his former Attorney General, Justin Muturi, has deteriorated into a public fallout, marked by sharp criticisms and political tension. The latest chapter in this saga unfolded on March 25, 2025, during an Iftar event at State House, where President Ruto hosted Muslim leaders and community members. In his remarks, Ruto openly labeled Muturi as an “incompetent” Attorney General, shedding light on the deepening rift between the two men who were once key allies in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Justin Muturi’s journey with Ruto began with promise. A seasoned politician and former Speaker of the National Assembly, Muturi joined Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance in April 2022, ahead of the general election that propelled Ruto to the presidency.

After Ruto’s victory, Muturi was appointed Attorney General in October 2022, tasked with serving as the government’s chief legal adviser. However, cracks in their relationship emerged as early as mid-2024. Reports surfaced that Ruto frequently bypassed Muturi’s legal counsel on critical decisions, including the controversial deployment of the military to quell anti-government protests and the establishment of a public debt audit task force.

Muturi himself later confirmed these claims, stating in July 2024 that his office was sidelined, and he was sometimes as surprised as the public to see gazette notices bearing his signature.

The tipping point came in July 2024 when Ruto, facing mounting pressure from nationwide protests led by Generation Z over governance issues, sacked his entire Cabinet, including Muturi as Attorney General. Yet, in a surprising twist, Ruto reappointed Muturi just months later, in October 2024, as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service. Political analysts speculated that this move was an attempt to appease Muturi’s supporters in the Mt. Kenya region, a key voting bloc for Ruto.

However, the reconciliation was short-lived.

Tensions escalated in early 2025 when Muturi took a bold stand against the government he served. On January 12, 2025, he publicly criticized the administration for its handling of abductions and extrajudicial killings, revealing that his own son, Leslie, had been abducted by state agents during the 2024 protests. Muturi claimed that it took Ruto’s personal intervention to secure his son’s release after the National Intelligence Service (NIS) held him. This revelation not only embarrassed the administration but also positioned Muturi as a vocal critic of Ruto’s leadership. He began boycotting Cabinet meetings, starting with the first one of the year on January 21, 2025, in Kakamega, insisting he would not attend until the issue of abductions was formally addressed.

Muturi’s defiance drew sharp rebukes from Ruto’s allies. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused him of playing politics and predicted his imminent exit from the Cabinet. Belgut MP Nelson Koech echoed this sentiment, claiming Muturi was “daring the president to fire him.” Despite the pressure, Muturi stood firm, dismissing calls for his resignation as “cowardly” and arguing that raising human rights concerns was his duty as a public servant.

The situation reached a boiling point on March 25, 2025, when President Ruto, speaking at the State House Iftar event, directly addressed Muturi’s tenure as Attorney General. “I had a problem with the AG who was there; he was fairly incompetent,” Ruto declared to the gathered Muslim leaders, marking his most explicit condemnation of Muturi to date. The remark was a clear response to Muturi’s ongoing criticisms and his refusal to toe the government line. It also raised questions about Ruto’s judgment, given that he had appointed Muturi to both the Attorney General and Public Service roles.

Muturi, for his part, has shown no signs of backing down. In a March 13, 2025, interview, he accused Ruto of ignoring advice and allowing non-Cabinet members into sensitive meetings during his time as Attorney General, further fueling the narrative of a dysfunctional working relationship. He has vowed not to resign, instead calling out Ruto for perpetuating impunity and failing to address pressing national issues.

As of March 25, 2025, the fallout between Ruto and Muturi remains unresolved, casting a shadow over the Kenya Kwanza administration. What began as a partnership rooted in political strategy has unraveled into a bitter feud, with both men trading barbs in public. Whether Muturi will survive this clash or face another ouster from Ruto’s Cabinet remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the once-united front has fractured, leaving Kenya’s political landscape more volatile than ever.