Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Monday, May 13, survived an impeachment motion lodged against him predominantly over the fake fertiliser debacle that attracted the wrath of lawmakers and Kenyans across the board.
This was after an 11-member committee probing the impeachment case presented its findings on the floor of the National Assembly. According to the committee, the three counts against the CS were unsubstantiated.
The three counts against Linturi were;
- Gross violation of the Constitution
- Gross misconduct
-
Committing a crime under the national law
The committee findings were read to the national Assembly by Naomi Waqo, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party.
Following the announcement, Members of Parliament began to shout in the house forcing the Speaker, Moses Wetangula to restore order.
Additionally, Wetangula emphasised that since the committee had dismissed the allegations against Linturi, no further proceedings on his impeachment were necessary.
He further noted that the committee had been dissolved.
Following the announcement, Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo and other MPs were given a chance to comment on the committee's report.
Omollo alleged that he was informed of misconduct among some of the committee members and demanded thorough investigations into the claims.
On the other hand, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi suggested that the National Assembly should stop recognising Mithika Linturi as the Cabinet Secretary and asked President William Ruto to sack the CS.
Linturi's fate was being determined by an 11-member National Assembly Committee which concluded compiling its report on Sunday, May 12.
During the hearings, the Agriculture CS defended himself and accused his political of trying to frustrate him.
He also pointed fingers at his former wife, Aldai MP Marianne Kitany.
Kitany, on her part, asked the President to take action and protect farmers from cartels who are selling them fake farm inputs.
"I think the President should lead from the front on this particular issue. He needs to take action, whatever action that is required of him," she stated.
