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A Kenyan minister was dismissed in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday for breaking ranks to condemn President William Ruto over a slew of kidnappings, including one involving his son.
The minister of public services, Justin Muturi, accused the intelligence service earlier this year of kidnapping his son and claimed he had to ask Ruto to help free him.
At the height of widespread youth-led demonstrations against the government’s proposed tax increases in June, Muturi’s son Leslie was kidnapped.
Over 60 extrajudicial deaths and 89 cases of kidnapping have been reported by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights since the June protests, while 29 persons remain unaccounted for.
Earlier this month, former attorney general Muturi pledged to abstain from cabinet meetings until the disappearances were looked into and urged the government to conduct a public investigation into the disappearances.
Police have denied any role in the kidnappings, but rights organisations have accused a covert team from the police, intelligence, counterterrorism, and other agencies.
Parliamentarian Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku took Muturi’s place, the president’s office said Wednesday.
Later on Tuesday, Ruto denounced Muturi as “fairly incompetent” as attorney general, but he has not responded to his criticism.
Since agreeing to a political cooperation agreement with Raila Odinga, his erstwhile bitter opponent and opposition veteran, earlier this month, Ruto has begun reorganising his cabinet.
