CS Linturi survives impeachment

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May 13, 2024
5:32 pm

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Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi has survived an impeachment motion after seven members out of the 11 committee members selected to probe the fake fertilizer scandal voted against his dismissal.

Addressing the speaker, 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 whereas the other four dissented and wrote the minority report.

“The allegation under ground 1 on gross violation of the constitution, ground 2 on serious reasons for believing the CS has committed a crime under national law and ground 3 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.

In his defence, the CS through his lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu, noted that he was not directly involved in the procurement of the substandard goods thus the accusations lacked specifics and linkage to him, pinning the responsibility on the National Cereals and Produce Board Managing Director.

“A Cabinet Secretary is not directly involved in procurement,” he argued.

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