CS Ruku accuses Justin Muturi of 'misleading' Mbeere community to support opposition

Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has criticised former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti, accusing them of misleading the Mbeere community into opposition politics despite having previously benefited from successive governments.

Speaking during public engagements at Kavengero and Kìgwambiti in Mbeere North, Embu County, CS Ruku questioned why the two former leaders, who once held senior positions in government, are now championing political narratives that risk isolating the Mbeere community.

“You worked with government for years, JB Muturi, as a Magistrate, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly for 10 years, and even Attorney General before the cabinet portfolio. Kivuti also served as a Senator. Why now mislead the people of Mbeere into opposing the very government that will transform their lives?” Ruku posed, drawing applause from the crowd.

The CS challenged the two to stop endorsing aspirants with weak academic and leadership credentials, urging them instead to support capable individuals who can win influential parliamentary committee positions and effectively lobby for development.

“If they truly care about Mbeere, let them bring their own sons who are educated and able to walk into Parliament, sit on key committees, and deliver for the people. Leadership is not just about popularity; it’s about capacity and competence,” he emphasised.

While stressing his respect for Muturi and Kivuti, Ruku cautioned against using political rivalries to derail community progress.

“JB, I respect you. But your differences with the President should not be settled by misleading the Mbeere community. Let’s put the people first,” he said.

The CS also condemned the resurgence of clan-based politics in Mbeere North, describing it as divisive and outdated. He accused Muturi and Kivuti of reviving retrogressive tactics that threaten to fracture the community.

“Those pushing clan politics in Mbeere North have no space in this era. What our people need now is unity and development,” Ruku declared.

He outlined ongoing and planned development projects in Mbeere North as evidence of the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to the region. These include the planned tarmacking of the Kathangeri–Kavengero–Kanyuambora road and the upgrade of the Kanyuambora–Kamumu–Soko–Nthawa road, which he described as transformative for trade, transport, and economic activity.

“This is what real development looks like—roads that open up markets, link villages, and uplift communities,” he noted.

Ruku further announced that funding for the Kanyuambora Irrigation Project will be disbursed next week, with completion targeted by the end of the year. He said the project will boost agricultural productivity, improve food security, and benefit hundreds of households.

“Our people depend on farming. Once the irrigation is completed, hunger will be a thing of the past in Mbeere. That’s the empowerment this government is delivering, not just in Embu but across the country,” he said.

Earlier in his visit, CS Ruku issued a development cheque to Kavengero and Kígwambiti Secondary School to equip the institution with essential learning facilities, in line with the government’s broader efforts to strengthen education.

He urged residents to support government programs, highlighting ongoing road upgrades in the region, including the Muvakari–Gítií and Kanyuambora–Kamumu–Kageerí roads.

“The government is fully committed to improving access to quality education. Already, the Ministry of Education has built over 23,000 new classrooms and hired 76,000 teachers over the past three years to support the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC),” he said.

Ruku added that plans are underway to recruit 24,000 more teachers, bringing the total to 100,000, in line with President William Ruto’s 2022 campaign pledge to strengthen the education sector in his first term.

He concluded by urging Mbeere North residents to remain united and support the government, warning against leaders who use divisive rhetoric to alienate the region from national development.

“We are in government, and that’s where we must stay. Anyone telling you otherwise is playing politics with your future,” he cautioned.

“Politics of division and clanism will not build a single road or feed a single family. Mbeere understands one language—development.”