Former Treasury CS Prof. NJUGUNA NDUNG’U accuses President RUTO of intimidating Government Officials – “I refused to engage in questionable deals"

Thursday, July 30, 2026 - Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u has accused President William Ruto of undermining Kenya’s public institutions, claiming that government officials are being forced to act out of fear due to political interference. 

Speaking on Thursday, July 30, Ndung’u said the country has both institutional and individual capacity to uphold integrity, but this potential is weakened when leaders interfere with independent bodies.

“The capacity to do the right thing exists, but it is often undermined by institutional failure, where individuals seek to overrun institutions. Right now, the current president overruns all the institutions, and as a result, everyone within those institutions feels compelled to conform out of fear,” he stated.

Ndung’u recalled his tenure at the National Treasury, saying he deliberately avoided questionable transactions because unethical decisions carry lifelong consequences.

“I refused to engage in questionable deals while serving in the Ministry of Finance. Those actions follow you to your grave. They don’t disappear when a regime leaves office,” he said.

He further revealed that some of his colleagues became entangled in unresolved legal and ethical cases that haunted them until their deaths.

“I had friends who became entangled in such matters, including some at the Central Bank. Even by the time they died, those issues were still haunting them.

"Their cases were never concluded, and that in itself became a form of punishment,” he added.

Ndung’u emphasized that the resilience of individuals and institutions is crucial in resisting improper demands.

He concluded that while political environments are temporary, accountability remains permanent.

“Ultimately, it is only individual and institutional capacity that gives someone the courage to say no, because they understand that the consequences will follow them,” he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.