Nyandarua County Senator John Methu has criticized President William Ruto following remarks in which he labelled Public Service and Capital Development CS Justin Muturi as incompetent during his tenure as Attorney General.

Methu, in a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, questioned the logic behind promoting an individual deemed incompetent instead of dismissing them.

He accused the administration of being intolerant to criticism and targeting leaders who speak the truth.

“How do you reward an incompetent staff by promoting him to a bigger office? Mr President, stop taking Kenyans for a ride, last night you said Justin Muturi was incompetent but instead of firing him, you promoted him to a higher office,” Methu said.

“It’s quite clear that your administration is incapable of taking criticism and has now resulted in maligning leaders who speak the truth. They say before the hyenas eat their young ones, they first accuse them of smelling like sheep.”

President Ruto made the remarks while addressing Muslim leaders during an Iftar event at State House on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. During his speech, he blamed Muturi for delays in establishing the Waqf, an Islamic endowment fund, stating that his inefficiency had hindered progress.

However, Ruto praised the current Attorney General, Dorcas Oduor, asserting that she had the competence to ensure the operationalization of the fund within a few months.

“I had a problem with the AG who was there before—he was fairly incompetent. But now, I have a very competent lady in the position, and I can assure you that the issues of Wakf will be sorted out within months,” Ruto stated.

Muturi, who was removed from his position as Attorney General in June 2024 following the Gen-Z-led protests that resulted in the dismissal of Ruto’s entire cabinet, did not take the remarks lightly.

In a fiery rebuttal, he accused the president of pushing for the establishment of the Waqf Fund without adhering to legal procedures.

“Under the Waqf Act no.8 of 2022, there’s 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 Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” Muturi wrote on X.

He emphasized that under the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022, there is no provision for a “Muslim Endowment Fund” and that Islamic endowments are legally required to be managed by the Waqf Commission.