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Relief for Agriculture CS Linturi as impeachment bid flops

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi addresses the public during a tour of the Nakuru County depot of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) on March 26, 2024. (Photo: Agriculture ministry)

By Barack Oduor | Monday, May 13, 2024

The 11-member select committee that probed him over the fake fertiliser scandal found there were not enough grounds for his impeachment.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has had the last laugh in efforts to have him leave office after an impeachment motion tabled against him failed.

The 11-member select committee chosen by lawmakers to probe him over the fake fertiliser scandal found there were not enough grounds to impeach him.

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The committee investigated allegations raised in an impeachment motion sponsored by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka. Its report was tabled by its chair, Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo.

Waqo said that the majority of the members found the allegations against the CS unsubstantiated, with seven voting to clear him and four dissenting.

"Four members of the committee dissented and wrote the minority report," she said, adding the team was guided by the constitution and Standing Orders.

"The committee had the opportunity to sit and allow all the parties to present themselves," she said.

"The allegations under ground 1, on gross violation of the constitution, ground 2 on the serious reason for believing that the cabinet secretary has committed a crime under national law, and ground 3 on gross misconduct, as outlined in the special motion, are unsubstantiated," the committee said in its report to the National Assembly.