Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has disclosed that President William Ruto personally requested him to give his party ticket to Mbeere North Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Ruku during the 2022 general election.

Speaking during an interview on Friday, April 4, 2025, Muturi, who has known Ruku since 2002, explained that the decision was made to prevent any political fallout between Ruto’s allies, particularly with Charles Njagagua, the then-sitting MP for the area, who was already the favoured candidate for Ruto’s UDA party.

According to Muturi, the request came during a crucial period when the nominations for UDA were about to begin, and Ruto, who was keen on avoiding intra-party conflicts, called him while he was on his way to a meeting in Othaya, Nyeri County.

He added that both Ruto and Ruku had worked together in various political formations, including UDM and URP, before eventually joining UDA.

“Ruku was actually given to me by William Ruto because William Ruto did not want them to have a fight with Charles Njagagua, the then-sitting Member of Parliament who was already UDA’s favoured candidate by Ruto, and since Ruku has also been Ruto’s friend since the days in UDM and URP,” Muturi said.

“Ruto called me on my way to Uthaya for a meeting during the days I was going round and told me please and told me please, JB, since we have already agreed that we would team and be together, you give this guy your party ticket so as to avoid a fall out during UDA nomination.”

He went on to disclose that Ruku, a longtime friend of Ruto, had been politically active immediately after university, first running for councillor in 2002.

Muturi emphasised that he had no issues with Ruku and has always been willing to support his political endeavours.

“I have no problem with Geoffrey Ruku; I am the one who has brought him up. He started quite early, immediately after university, in 2002. He has run for councillor; since then, I have known him,” he disclosed.

He also disclosed that he had previously offered to sponsor Ruku in 2017 to run for the position of senator for Embu.

“I also offered to assist Ruku just like I had offered to sponsor him to run for senator of Embu in 2017,” he added.

Muturi on Ruku’s nomination

Regarding Ruku’s nomination as a Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Public Service, Muturi expressed no opposition, adding that he has no problem with Ruku replacing him.

He clarified that he did not see political positions as something to be personalised, and his main focus was to serve the people, regardless of who held which position.

“I do not have a problem with Ruku becoming the CS; it is okay, and for me, this position should not be personalised, and for me, my interest is to just serve the people,” he stated.