Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management, Justin Muturi, has defended his record as Attorney General, highlighting key achievements during his tenure.
His statement comes just hours after President William Ruto publicly criticized him, calling him “fairly incompetent” in handling legal matters.
Muturi served as Attorney General from 2022 until June 2024, when he was dismissed alongside all Cabinet Secretaries following the Gen Z protests.
In his exit report, he detailed his accomplishments, emphasizing the role his office played in safeguarding government interests in legal disputes and policy formulation.
During his tenure, Muturi said his office successfully defended 1,503 out of 1,588 concluded cases, saving the government Sh17.5 billion.
The Office of the Attorney General is mandated to represent the government in legal proceedings, including cases before international, regional, and domestic courts, as well as arbitration tribunals.
Among the notable cases that saved the government significant amounts is the Attorney General vs Kabuito Contractors Limited, where the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal, preventing the government from paying over Sh5.2 billion.
In the Torino Enterprises Ltd vs Attorney General case, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling that saved the government Sh3.8 billion. Another key case was Stephen K. Cheruiyot vs Attorney General & Others, where a court dismissed a third-party claim seeking Sh100 million as compensation for wrongful land allocation.
“The Office represented the Government in five ongoing International Arbitration matters seeking to defend the Government against liabilities in excess of Sh632Billion,” he said.
He further highlighted that his office played a crucial role in advising the government on international legal matters, issuing 708 legal advisories on bilateral, regional, and international law issues within six days of receiving requests. Additionally, the office provided 225 advisories on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
The Office of the Attorney General also contributed to major government projects, including the Leasing of Medical Equipment initiative, which supported counties in retaining equipment to enhance universal healthcare.
It played a legal advisory role in the implementation of the Affordable Housing Scheme and was instrumental in structuring and ensuring compliance for the E-Citizen Platform, which has streamlined access to government services.
The office also ensured legal compliance for Kenya’s Green Hydrogen/Ammonia Project, a key initiative in the country’s green energy sector.
“The Office has facilitated the formal drafting of 36 pieces of legislation to support the BETA including the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023, Gambling Control Bill, 2023, the National Lottery Bill, 2023, and 11 Legal Notices for the establishment of Special Economic Zones and Export Processing Zones (in Kiambu County, Mombasa County, Nairobi County, Trans Nzoia County, Murang’a County and Uasin Gishu County).”
Under Muturi’s tenure, the government registered 60,175 marriages, generating Sh116.8 million in revenue. The E-Citizen platform processed 26,044 marriage services, collecting Sh69.9 million.
The Public Trustee finalized the administration of 4,055 estates of deceased persons, disbursing Sh3.1 billion to widows, orphans, and other beneficiaries. The timely release of these funds, Muturi said, supported basic needs like food, housing, healthcare, and education.
His office also provided legal aid to 122,221 vulnerable individuals in criminal, civil, and children’s matters.
Ruto’s Criticism of Muturi
On Tuesday, President Ruto publicly criticized Muturi, saying he had been ineffective in handling legal affairs, particularly in establishing Waqf, a commission responsible for managing Islamic endowments.
Speaking at an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said:
“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 Waqf will be sorted out within months.”
This was the first time Ruto had directly attacked Muturi, who has recently been vocal in criticizing the government, including raising concerns over alleged abductions.
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