- David Ndii dismissed Justin Muturi’s claims over a controversial Ksh129 billion deal.
- Ndii stated the Attorney General has no mandate to sign such agreements.
- He clarified that only Cabinet Secretaries can sign government contracts.
- Muturi had claimed he was asked by Ruto to sign a deal with Russian oligarchs in Dubai.
- Muturi said he declined, citing the need to review the documents first.
President William Ruto’s top economic advisor David Ndii has poked holes in claims made by former Attorney General Justin Muturi over an alleged Ksh129 billion deal involving Russian oligarchs.
Ndii took to social media on Friday, April 4, where he dismissed Muturi’s narrative, stating that the Attorney General has no legal authority to sign deals on behalf of the Kenyan government.
“AG does not sign agreements. She/he gives a written legal opinion giving go-ahead for the government to enter into agreements,” Ndii wrote on X.
According to him, the role of the AG is strictly advisory, and any binding agreements are signed by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the relevant docket.
“The agreements/contracts are signed by CS of relevant ministries,” he added.
Muturi: I Was Asked to Sign Deal with Russians at Dubai Airport
Muturi had earlier sparked debate after appearing in an interview on NTV, where he alleged he was pressured by President Ruto to sign a deal with Russian businessmen while in Dubai.
He claimed the deal, amounting to Ksh129 billion (USD 1 billion), was tied to a project aimed at planting 3 billion trees in Kenya.
“I landed in Dubai and received a phone call from Ruto, who told me that the Russians were waiting at the airport and I needed to sign the documents. I declined, saying I needed to review the documents in the office,” Muturi stated.
Muturi Questions President Ruto’s Intentions
Muturi further expressed discomfort with the process, suggesting that the President’s approach indicated a possible conflict of interest.
“The deal purported to give a grant of Ksh129 billion to grow allegedly 3 billion trees. Whenever Ruto comes up with a project, it’s for moneymaking,” Muturi alleged.
His revelations have stirred debate over the transparency of government partnerships and the legality of such engagements, especially when key procedures appear to be bypassed.
War of Words Exposes Power Struggles Within Government
The public exchange between Ndii and Muturi has not only exposed possible cracks within the Ruto administration but also raised questions about who really holds the pen when Kenya signs billion-shilling deals.
