Members of Parliament have approved the proposed dismissal of troubled Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
In the vote at the National Assembly on Thursday, May 2, 149 MPs voted to proceed with the impeachment process for CS Linturi. Parliament is in a rush to debate and conclude the impeachment motion before its upcoming recess in June.
The motion required support from at least one-third of the assembly's 349 members to proceed, and it surpassed the threshold with ease.
Of the 188 legislators who cast their votes, 149 supported the motion, while 36 opposed it. Only three abstained from the proceedings.
The National Assembly is now poised to appoint a select committee to delve into the accusations against CS Linturi.
The composition of the select committee reflects a balance of parliamentary representation, with 6 slots allocated to the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, 4 to the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, and 1 to the Jubilee Party.
In his communication, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula stated, ”In nominating the members, parties are to ensure the nominees to the committee reflect the diversity of the house including regional and gender considerations.”
The select committee faces a tight deadline of ten days to present its findings to the Assembly, determining the veracity of the accusations levelled against Linturi. If the allegations are substantiated, the Assembly will proceed to vote on his dismissal.
Linturi finds himself in the crosshairs of public scrutiny alongside Health CS Susan Nakhumicha, as both face mounting pressure to resign from their respective positions.
The mover of the motion, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka called for bipartisanship in the voting process. He stated, "This is not a political issue, this is a moral issue. The CS is genuinely and criminally involved in this particular issue of denying Kenyans the opportunity to ensure that we have food security in the country."
Reflecting on the gravity of the situation, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui urged his colleagues to vote conscientiously, mindful of the plight of Kenyan farmers affected by the scandal. "Let's vote with our conscience," Mbui implored.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, a vocal proponent of the motion, affirmed his stance during the heated debate, citing Linturi's responsibility as the head of the ministry. "Should the CS take responsibility for the motion and the issue at hand? The answer is YES," Amollo declared, pointing to evidence implicating Linturi in the scandal.
However, Linturi found support from members of the Kenya Kwanza coalition, including Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who cautioned against hastily resorting to impeachment based on unsubstantiated claims. Ichung’wah urged the Assembly to allow the Committee on Agriculture to conduct a thorough inquiry before making any definitive decisions.
He stated, “We cannot use the basis of newspaper reports to impeach anybody. Allow me to plead with this house to defeat this motion because it will derail the fight against corruption. If we derail the fight against corruption, by using such motions to speak to the gallery, to speak to our voters, to speak about corruption but never acting over corruption.”
Similarly, nominated MP Sabina Chege called for a measured approach, advocating for the naming and shaming of individuals responsible for exploiting innocent farmers. "These people should be jailed for taking advantage of innocent farmers," Chege asserted, highlighting the need for decisive action against wrongdoers.
The grounds for Linturi's impeachment, as outlined by Wamboka, encompass gross violations of the constitution, including breaches of good governance, accountability, and criminal negligence.
The allegations centre around the distribution of fake fertilizer through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), tarnishing Linturi's reputation and credibility.
