Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u has publicly accused President William Ruto of overrunning key state institutions, asserting that this domination forces officials to conform out of fear of lasting repercussions.
Speaking at a Nairobi meeting, Ndung’u stressed that while independent institutions exist in name, their autonomy is severely weakened when political leaders seek to control them.
Ndung’u stated: "Right now, the current president overruns all the institutions. And that is why everybody in those institutions will have to conform for fear."
During his tenure at the National Treasury, Ndung’u said he resisted pressure to engage in inappropriate deals, emphasizing the enduring personal and professional consequences of compromising public office.
He reflected, "I refuse to do deals in the Ministry of Finance. I can't do deals. I know, it follows you to your grave."
Ndung’u also highlighted that the negative effects of institutional compromise persist beyond the tenure of any political regime, citing examples of friends caught in controversies related to the Central Bank of Kenya who faced consequences until their deaths.
He noted that some cases involving his associates remain unresolved due to the severity of their implications.
Ndung’u served as Central Bank of Kenya Governor from March 2007 to March 2015 before being appointed Treasury CS by President Ruto in September 2022. He was dropped from the Cabinet in July 2024 during a wider reshuffle.
