Former Attorney General and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has alleged that President William Ruto held a private meeting with senior officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) months before the 2022 General Election.
Speaking during a recent interview, Muturi claimed the meeting took place in May 2022 at Ruto’s Karen residence and involved the late IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and commissioners.
Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu. According to Muturi, the meeting occurred at a time when Ruto was already a presidential candidate, raising concerns about the appropriateness of the engagement.
Muturi recounted that he had been invited by Ruto to meet him at the Karen home shortly after returning from Mombasa.
However, upon arrival, he said he found that the then Deputy President was not present and decided to leave after waiting for some time.
“I waited for a while and eventually sent him a message saying I was leaving,” Muturi said.
He explained that Ruto later called him back and informed him he was meeting three individuals. When Muturi asked who they were, he said Ruto mentioned Chebukati together with commissioners Guliye and Molu.
According to Muturi, the meeting was held at the main house in Karen rather than at IEBC offices. He further noted that the engagement was not official and that even some individuals arriving at the residence were unaware of the meeting.
The former Attorney General said the encounter happened just two days before Ruto announced Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate in the 2022 presidential race.
Muturi stated that he was not privy to the discussions held during the meeting but observed that Ruto appeared highly confident about winning the election afterward.
“I don’t know what was discussed, but from that meeting, William Ruto was very confident he would win the 2022 elections,” he said.
The revelation touches on sensitive legal and ethical expectations surrounding the conduct of electoral officials, who are required to maintain neutrality and avoid private engagements with candidates during an election period.
The IEBC played a central role in the August 2022 election, which saw Ruto declared president after a closely contested race against Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga.
The results were later upheld by the Supreme Court following a petition challenging the outcome.