Bumula MP Jack Wamboka has promised to fight until Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi is bundled out of office, moments after he survived impeachment.
Wamboka accused MPs of betraying Kenyans by letting off the hook the CS whom he accuses of orchestrating the fake fertiliser scandal.
According to Wamboka, over 30 million Kenyans were baying for Linturi’s blood over the scandal, which saw Kenyans buy fake fertiliser from dealers.
“Thank you for the overwhelming support and appreciation as we undertook this grievous matter of national importance of unravelling the fake fertilizer scandal. We have lost the battle but we shall ultimately win the war,” Wamboka stated.
“We will not relent in pursuit of this fake fertilizer scandal that has rendered farmers hopeless and endangered the country’s food security. There is no doubt that all evidence and witnesses proved beyond reasonable doubt that Linturi as the head of the docket was liable for the mess, scam and failures.”
Seven members out of the 11 committee members selected to probe the fake fertilizer scandal voted against Linturi’s dismissal. However, four members committee dissented.
“The unanimous decision of 149 members representing over 30M Kenyans cannot be overturned by the influenced 7 members of the select committee. Their decision is a betrayal in the city to the hardworking Kenyans in our villages. I celebrate the 4 patriotic members Hon (Robert) Mbui, Hon (Catherine) Omanyo, Hon Yusuf Farah and Hon TJ Kajwang. You are our heroes. Special appreciation to my legal team led by SC Dr Khaminwa and Asha for our spirited representation on behalf of Kenyans,” he added.
“We will not tire until justice is served to Kenyan farmers and Linturi dismissed. There are many ways of killing a rat, some will use poison, others will burn the house but some will sit on it.”
Linturi survives
Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo and the chairlady of the committee stated that the majority of the committee members found the claims against the CS unsubstantiated against the opinion of the minority who dissented.
“The allegation under ground one on gross violation of the constitution, ground two on serious reasons for believing the CS has committed a crime under national law and ground three on the gross misconduct as outlined on the special motion are unsubstantiated,” she said.
Linturi’s impeachment motion was approved by the National Assembly on May 2, 2024, after he was accused of approving the procurement and distribution of fake fertilizer by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and failing to exercise public trust and transparency in his duties.
The CS was also accused of signing of an agency agreement for the supply and distribution of GPC diatomaceous, which was misrepresented as a chemical fertilizer.
Consequently, the 11-member committee which comprised 6 MPs from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, 4 from the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition and one MP from the Jubilee party was established to probe the claims centring on accusations that the CS failed to take action to prevent the distribution of the substandard fertilizer.
