Muturi Claims Ruto is ‘Unfit to Be President and Irredeemably Corrupt,’ Exposes Pressure to Sign Sh129B Deal with Russians

Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi unleashed a series of scathing exposés on Friday morning, accusing President William Ruto of being “irredeemably corrupt” and alleging that the president secretly orchestrates multibillion-shilling deals while publicly condemning corruption.

The claims, aired during an interview on NTV, come barely two weeks after Muturi’s dismissal from Ruto’s Cabinet, further intensifying political tensions in the country.

Muturi, who also served as Attorney General, painted a stark contrast between Ruto’s public persona and his alleged behind-the-scenes conduct.

“Ruto has two personalities. The William Ruto who presents himself to the public is a completely different character from the one who sits in the office and crafts deals,” Muturi said. “He is a dangerous character. I think Ruto is unfit for the position of president. Yes, he is absolutely, irredeemably corrupt.”

Muturi dismissed suggestions of personal bitterness, insisting his assessment stems from two years of working closely with Ruto. While he cited multiple examples of alleged corruption, he refrained from detailing most incidents but singled out the controversial Adani deal. Muturi claimed insider knowledge of the deal and alleged Ruto’s direct involvement.

“I know Ruto is clearly behind it. His economic advisor, Adan Mohammed, invited me to attend COP 28 in Dubai in 2023, where I received significant information related to the Adani deal,” he said, explaining how discussions with Ruto’s aides revealed its origins.

The Ksh.129 Billion Russian Deal

Justin Muturi

Among Muturi’s most explosive allegations is that Ruto pressured him to sign a Ksh.129 billion deal with Russian oligarchs during COP 28 in Dubai in December 2023.

The purported agreement, framed as a grant to plant 3 billion trees, allegedly bypassed legal protocols by channeling funds directly to a ministry rather than through the Treasury.

“I landed in Dubai and received a call from Ruto, saying the Russians were waiting at the airport and I needed to sign the documents,” Muturi recounted. “I declined, saying I needed to review them in the office.”

He described the deal as a moneymaking scheme, adding, “Whenever Ruto comes up with a project, it’s for moneymaking.” Public records do not yet corroborate this specific deal, though Kenya’s tree-planting initiatives have attracted significant investments, raising questions about transparency.

Arror and Kimwarer Dams Scandal

Muturi also highlighted his refusal to endorse the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams project, a Ksh.63 billion loan deal with Italian firm CMC di Ravenna. He pointed to discrepancies in cost and quality, stating, “In Kimwarer, nothing has happened because the report provided was faulty.”

The scandal, well-documented in Kenya, saw billions paid with little progress, prompting past investigations into fraud and mismanagement. Muturi claimed he resisted pressure from Ruto’s administration to sign off, including during meetings with Italian officials.

Ruto’s Response

President Ruto has countered Muturi’s allegations, asserting that his dismissal in March 2025 stemmed from incompetence and absenteeism from Cabinet meetings. Speaking ahead of his Mt. Kenya tour during a media interview, Ruto described Muturi as unfit for his roles—a claim Muturi dismissed as a diversion from governance issues like abductions, which he had urged Ruto to address.

“Fortunately, he referred to my alleged incompetence as Attorney General, but I believe the president’s intention is to divert attention from abductions and extrajudicial killings. He wants me to defend myself, turning it into a back-and-forth. I don’t have to—my record speaks for itself,” Muturi said.

Muturi, replaced by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku, insisted he harbors no vendetta and offered to provide soft-copy documents to substantiate his claims. “I’ve no bitterness; this is my assessment,” he said, challenging Ruto’s anti-corruption rhetoric as hollow.

Despite his damning accusations, Muturi expressed regret that this information wasn’t shared with the public earlier, suggesting Kenyans deserved to know the truth before the elections. He hinted at more revelations in a forthcoming book, where he plans to detail his experiences in the Cabinet, including alleged corruption and behind-the-scenes dealings he witnessed.