Former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti sensationally declined President William Ruto's offer for the Public Service Cabinet Secretary position.
Former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti has revealed how he snubbed President William Ruto by turning down a job offer following the sacking of Justin Muturi as Public Service Cabinet Secretary.
Mr Kivuti said that when he received a call from Dr Ruto, the President informed him that he intended to offer him a government position, revealing that he would be replacing Mr Muturi.
“But I told him I would appreciate a job offer as long as it was not Mr Muturi’s position,” he said.
Ex-Senator Lenny Kivuti.
When the President made it clear that the only available position was the Public Service Cabinet Secretary post and insisted that Mr Kivuti take it, he declined.
“I rejected the President’s offer because I was not ready to betray my brother, who comes from Mbeere North. Mr Muturi is my very close friend, and there is no way I could have taken his job,” said the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) national chairman in an interview.
“What Dr Ruto did was tantamount to stripping Mr Muturi naked, and as a leader with principles, I declined the offer and resolved to continue working with him (Muturi),” he added.
Mr Kivuti said DEP will back a candidate from Mr Muturi’s Democratic Party in the upcoming Mbeere North Parliamentary by-election.
“Now that he has lost his cabinet position, we have decided to support his party in winning the seat,” he stated.
He criticised Mr Geoffrey Ruku for accepting the Public Service Cabinet Secretary post following Mr Muturi’s exit. The two are from the same constituency.
Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku addressing the media at Parliament buildings, Nairobi, on January 31, 2024.
He further said that the DEP had officially aligned with the political camp led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with the aim of liberating the country from poor governance.
Declaring that Dr Ruto’s government had become increasingly unpopular, Mr Kivuti added, “We have resolved to listen to the grassroots and move with the popular will of the people —where the majority of Kenyans are.”
“We have agreed to unite DEP with the popular Cousins Movement, but without any formal merger with another party. We don’t want to repeat past mistakes, and we shall work with Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya and Martha Karua to free the country from the chains of oppression,” stated Mr Kivuti.
Speaking on Monday during his party’s National Delegates Conference held in Embu Town, Mr Kivuti said the party’s position was that President Ruto had failed Kenyans and should be prepared to go home.
“We have agreed that this will be a one-term government. Kenyans, especially those in Embu, have suffered under this regime, and we shall team up with the opposition to vote Dr Ruto out and liberate the country from bad governance,” he said.
“Soon, I will host opposition leaders in Embu to demonstrate that we are serious about uniting Kenyans and campaigning against the Kenya Kwanza administration, which has lost direction,” he added.
