Former Attorney General and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has strongly criticized President William Ruto’s 15 billion tree planting initiative, dismissing it as a scandal with no real environmental value.
Speaking on Kameme FM on Monday, September 15, 2025, Muturi claimed the project—launched in 2022 to increase Kenya’s forest cover—was nothing more than a money-making scheme for a few powerful individuals.
Muturi: Ruto Is a “Pathological Liar”
During the interview, Muturi did not hold back his criticism of the Head of State, describing him as dishonest.
“President William Ruto is a pathological liar. He looks you straight in the eye and lies without blinking. I’ve never encountered anyone like
President Ruto launched the 15 billion tree initiative (also known as Jaza Miti) in late 2022 with the goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. The program aimed to:
- Restore degraded ecosystems
- Achieve 30% national forest cover
- Combat climate change
- Support community livelihoods through tree growing
The campaign was framed as a collective effort involving government agencies, local communities, and individuals.
Muturi: A “Phantom” Project
Muturi, who was a close ally of Ruto before their fallout in early 2025, alleged that the initiative was designed as a cash cow for insiders.
According to him, he was approached by Aden Mohammed, one of President Ruto’s advisors, who claimed that $3 billion (Ksh 387.7 billion) had been secured for the project.
“I was asked to draft an MOU, but I made it clear that the Presidency could not sign such a document. Shortly after, a fake NGO—Agriculture Innovation Ministries (AIM)—was created to front the deal. My investigations showed the NGO did not even exist. It was a fraud,” Muturi alleged.
He further questioned why President Ruto has gone silent on the project in recent months, suggesting it collapsed after he refused to endorse the alleged deal.
Muturi’s criticism comes after a major fallout with President Ruto earlier this year. The former Public Service Cabinet Secretary revealed that his son, Leslie Muturi, was abducted in 2024 by individuals linked to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) under alleged orders from the President.
“That was the turning point for me. I cannot support a government that uses state machinery to intimidate its own people,” Muturi added.
