Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee Justin Muturi recently addressed media reports, confirming his voluntary resignation from the Attorney General position.
Contrary to claims of being fired, Muturi clarified that he resigned.
“There were reasons behind this decision. Considering the National Executive level and the general disquiet at that time, the honorable course was to use the legal route to give the President the freedom to reorganize his Cabinet as he desired,” he said.
Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Sunday, Muturi also discussed the public service internship program, acknowledging its good intentions but highlighting the need for substantial improvements. He proposed transforming the initiative into a broader Kenya National Internship Program with active private sector participation.
“The program had the best intentions but encountered management issues. It should be reworked to include the private sector, which should be incentivized to take on interns,” he said.
As the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Muturi emphasized the need for increased transparency in government hiring, improved service delivery, and a more effective recognition and reward system for diligent public servants.
“If we proceed without re-engineering the program, we risk increasing public dissatisfaction. We must approach this program collaboratively,” he added.
Muturi assured MPs that he would not abolish permanent and pensionable terms for public servants, stressing the importance of maintaining these terms for stable and uninterrupted service delivery, especially during political transitions.
“A nation’s public service requires a mix of permanent and pensionable staff, along with contractual, advisory, and consultancy roles. Our focus must be on efficiency and protecting the public service from the uncertainties of political changes,” he explained, citing political turmoil in Italy, Britain, and Israel as examples where the public service remained largely unaffected despite political instability.
