Justin Muturi Condemns “Culture of Submission” After AG Dorcas Oduor’s Kneeling Gesture Before President

 

Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what he describes as a “deeply disturbing” culture of fear and submission within government, following the circulation of an image appearing to show Acting Attorney General Dorcas Oduor nearly kneeling before President William Ruto during a recent state function.

In the statement, Muturi, who served as Attorney General and previously as Speaker of the National Assembly, expressed outrage at the symbolic gesture, calling it a “dangerous display of worship toward power” and a sign of eroding institutional independence.

“As a former Attorney General, I can confidently say: I would never have done this,” Muturi wrote. “I cannot, and will not, worship any human being.”

The photo, which has triggered widespread debate online, shows Oduor in a lowered posture as she addresses or interacts with the President. Though some have defended it as a cultural or diplomatic gesture, others—including Muturi—see it as symptomatic of a broader problem within the executive.

“This image confirms what I have long said: Cabinet and senior government offices are operating under fear,” Muturi stated. “We must reject this culture of submission. It breeds authoritarianism, not leadership.”

Muturi warned that such acts, symbolic or otherwise, have consequences far beyond the moment. He argued that when top government officials appear to place personal loyalty above constitutional principles, it sends a dangerous message across the civil service and to the Kenyan public.

“Our institutions must be led with integrity, courage, and fidelity to the Constitution,” he said. “Reducing public service to a performative show of loyalty undermines the very foundation of democracy and encourages a return to authoritarian rule.”

The former AG further urged civil servants and public officials to uphold the dignity of their offices and resist undue political pressure or sycophancy.

“To young professionals in government: integrity is not defined by how close you are to power, but how firm you stand in principle,” he added.

Muturi’s remarks have reignited a national conversation on the balance between respect for office and submission to authority, especially within Kenya’s increasingly centralized executive system. Critics argue that the civil service has become too deferential, undermining accountability and institutional checks and balances.

As the debate continues, Muturi’s call for “a return to dignity, independence, and rule-based leadership” may resonate with those who fear Kenya’s hard-won democratic gains are slowly being eroded.

“Kenya deserves better,” Muturi concluded. “We must demand leadership rooted in humility, accountability, and respect—not fear.”