Reports by Nation Africa have revealed that Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi is facing internal criticism after an incident at a funeral in Embu on January 3, 2025.
Muturi was attempting to deliver President William Ruto’s condolence message when he was heckled by mourners, causing a disruption during the service for Eric Mutugi, the son of former Senator Lenny Kivuti.
The situation escalated when the crowd interrupted Muturi, leaving him in an awkward position.
As the funeral service began, Muturi started to read the President’s message, but his attempt was immediately met with dissatisfaction from the crowd.
Drawing from his experience as a former Speaker of the National Assembly, Muturi responded to the protests with a light-hearted remark, saying,
“I have heard your vote by acclamation.” Instead of continuing with the message, he chose to pass it directly to the Kivuti family, opting not to read it aloud in front of the audience. The situation was tense, and Muturi’s decision to skip the message seemed to defuse the escalating discomfort.
Muturi later spoke to Nation Africa in an interview where he revealed his frustrations with the situation.
He claimed that he had been misled by the church’s arrangement.
According to Muturi, Lenny Kivuti had specifically requested that he speak last and read the President’s message, but that plan was not followed, contributing to the confusion and hostile atmosphere at the funeral.
Muturi expressed disappointment with the manner in which the event was organized, suggesting that the unexpected turn of events had caught him off guard.
In the wake of the incident, Muturi faced accusations from some government officials who claimed that he had deliberately attempted to reject the President’s message.
These accusations added to the growing tension within the government, with some questioning his loyalty and intentions.
However, Muturi denied these allegations, stating that he was surprised by the government’s failure to address other pressing issues, such as the rising cases of abductions in the region.
He expressed his concern over the lack of focus on such issues, which, in his view, should have been prioritized over the incident at the funeral.
The funeral incident has sparked further debate on the challenges Muturi faces in his role as a Cabinet Secretary.
It also highlights the internal divisions within the government, with different factions pointing fingers at each other.
Muturi’s handling of the situation, along with the accusations against him, raises questions about the dynamics at play within the current administration and the difficulties of managing such a high-profile role in a politically charged environment.
The situation has certainly put Muturi under scrutiny, and it remains to be seen how it will impact his standing in the government going forward.
