The government has withdrawn the security of former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi allegedly due to his criticism of President William Ruto’s government.

Muturi, who was sacked on March 26, said the two officers were withdrawn on Monday night.

“My security detail was withdrawn last night at around 7.30pm. Two police officers who were attached to me by virtue of my position as former Speaker of the National Assembly were told not to report on duty,” he said.

Muturi said the officers were informed not to report on duty for what he suspects is due to his criticism of the government.

Muturi has been critical of the government, especially over abductions targeting the youth.

His son, Leslie Muturi, was abducted on June 22 last year at around 9pm near the roundabout on Dennis Pritt in Kileleshwa.

Wrong number

Muturi later claimed that his son was abducted by officers from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and was only released after President Ruto called the Director-General Noordin Haji and directed him to release him.

“If this is another attempt to intimidate me, they have dialled yet another wrong number,” Muturi said yesterday.

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen however said he is yet to receive a formal complaint from Muturi on his security.

He refuted claims that the alleged withdrawal of Muturi’s security could be political.

He also explained that the scale-down of officers is a routine matter in the security sector, especially with regards to officers guarding former public office holders.

“That is a simple and small matter that should be handled by the IG. If it’s escalated to me, I will address it as per the law,” said the CS.

He added: “We scale down security assigned to public officers once they vacate office. It’s normal and it applies to all, even me, if I leave office it.”

After he was sacked, President Ruto nominated Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku to fill the Public Service docket.

The president said Muturi’s absence in Cabinet meetings demonstrated defiance, leaving him with no option but to relieve him of his duties.

The government has previously withdrawn security to punish persons they deem to be critical of it.

Prominent people whose bodyguards have been withdrawn in the past, in unclear circumstances, include Azimio leader Raila Odinga, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and some members of the National Police Service Commission.

In September last year, the Judicial Service Commission claimed that High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi’s security detail was withdrawn for sentencing acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli to six-month jail term for contempt of court.

Satisfactory reasons

Neither the government nor the police gave satisfactory reasons for the knee-jerk decisions.

In July last year, for example, the government withdrew Raila’s security just days before his planned anti-government protests.

More than 10 police officers who protected him as he went about his daily duties and those guarding his homes in Nairobi, Kisumu and Siaya were withdrawn.

The State also withdrew the bodyguards of Musyoka and more than 50 Azimio MPs.

At the time of the planned protests, Azimio leaders claimed that the government had hatched a plot to harm them. Four Nyanza governors also lost their bodyguards – Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), James Orengo (Siaya), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu) and Ochilo Ayacko (Migori).

The officers were directed to report to Kisumu ahead of the planned countrywide three-day demonstrations.

Around the same time, the government withdrew Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s security. After a furore ensued, the officers were redeployed to Mama Ngina’s Nairobi and Gatundu homes and her private businesses.

The withdrawal of the guards had been anticipated, after some government officials accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta, a son of Mama Ngina, of funding the anti-government protests.

When the guards were withdrawn, Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe said they would “not be reinstated any time soon”.

Kagombe claimed more officers had only been ‘idling’ at Mama Ngina’s premises and had to be redeployed to help contain mass protests across the country.