A rift is escalating within the President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Government as Cabinet Secretaries seem to be reading from different scripts. This comes as Ruto fills his cabinet with politicians.
On Tuesday, January 14, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi accused the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headed by Noordin Haji of being behind his son’s abduction.
In a three-page press statement filed by Muturi, he accused Haji of being behind the abduction that took place in June 2024 and only released him after a call from President Ruto.
Muturi accused NIS and Haji of being behind the numerous abduction cases witnessed in the country, an allegation that has been rubbished by his colleague Opiyo Wandayi, who described Haji as an offenceless person.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi during a past media engagement at his office in Nairobi on November 25, 2024.
The Energy Cabinet Secretary defended the NIS, telling politicians to stop involving such an agency in their political rhetoric.
“As leaders of this nation, we must be very careful with our sentiments. Even if we have political differences, let’s safeguard the integrity of our institutions. Institutions as important as the NIS must be protected from political rhetoric,” Wandayi advised.
According to Wandayi, when he was the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, he worked alongside the now-NIS boss Haji and assured Kenyans that Haji could not commit such an offense.
“I have worked very closely with the NIS and its current boss Haji, I don’t think it’s fair for us to cast a stone on an institution like the NIS and a public officer who has no offense like Noordin Haji,” Wandayi continued.
Wandayi has challenged all politicians to iron out their issues without tainting the NIS and its leadership. According to the CS, such an institution safeguards the country’s security and integrity and should be protected to maintain its credibility.
Cases of forced abductions have been on the rise in the country, with youths speaking against the government going missing. As youths continue to go missing, no arrests have been made and nobody has come out to unveil who is behind the abductions.
Following the accusations by Muturi, the Justice Alliance lobby group called for Haji’s resignation. The NIS director has not yet commented on the allegations or the increased abduction cases.
On Saturday, January 18, Haji met with President William Ruto and Ethiopia’s Director General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Redwan Hussien, in the State House.
The leaders were discussing the country’s security challenges such as terrorism and organized crime, and they agreed that collaborative efforts among countries in the Horn of Africa were required to keep the countries safe.
NIS Director General Noordin Haji
Reuters