Cabinet Secretary nominee for Public Service and Human Capital Management Justin Muturi has come out to reveal that he resigned from his position as Attorney General and not dismissed by President William Ruto has widely reported.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Sunday, August 4, 2024, Muturi indicated that his position was no longer tenable so he decided to resign to allow President William Ruto to re-organise his Cabinet.
“It is true indeed that I resigned and there were reasons because as you would expect, the National Executive level and the country were alive that was some disquiet and the honorable thing to do at that particular time was take a route that is provided for in law to allow the President an opportunity to reorganize his Cabinet as he desired,” Muturi explained.
Justin Muturi: It is true that I resigned, and there were reasons. There had been some disquiet and the only honourable thing to do at that time was to take a route as provided for in the law.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/xdXuQkQitF
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
Defends his tenure as AG
At the same time, Muturi defended his tenure as the Attorney General before tendering his resignation to President William Ruto.
Muturi told the members of the committee that he enjoyed a cordial working relationship with various government organs.
Muturi thus dismissed claims that his legal advisories were ignored during his 20-month tenure as the Attorney General.
The Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee, however, informed the members sitting in the committee that he was compelled to give dissenting opinions to some ministries that were considered wrong.
“That story that advisories were not being taken was not correct. The office gives advisories in respect to many issues, in fact the office gives legal advisory opinions to county governments.
“I cannot remember which one was not never implemented if there is anything that perhaps was not implemented could have been the things that we advise ministries because the Office of the Attorney General is a signatory to every Cabinet memo,” Muturi stated.
“On occasions we had to return many memos to various ministries because they would bring requests which are so wrong. Because some Cabinet Secretaries argued that the Office of the Attorney General was a morgue,” he added.
His take on Public Service
Muturi emphasised that the public service cannot employ every Kenyan. Further, he noted that it cannot absorb all interns posted in various ministries and state departments.
He, however, indicated that the government has the responsibility to grow the economy to spur employment opportunities.
“It is not right to assume that the government can employ every Kenyan who has gone through school, but on the other hand, the government has a responsibility to grow the economy of this country and attract young Kenyans,” Muturi stated.
Justin Muturi: Every part of Kenya deserves to serve in the civil service. We need policies and programmes that allow absorption, but we must look for ways to do that.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/cryE7n1yeA
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
Moreover, Muturi argued that there is a need to streamline processes to end skewed recruitments in various government agencies.
“The recruitment process has been opaque; we have seen reports on skewed placements. We must ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.”
Justin Muturi: The recruitment process has been opaque, we have seen reports on skewed placements. We must ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/SFJWIpbQsW
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024
