Besieged Linturi to know fate today as MPs hold special sitting on ouster bid

Besieged Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi is set to know his fate today when a report on his impeachment will be tabled in Parliament.

Linturi's fate is however shrouded in reports indicating that the 11-member committee investigating was divided as those from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who make up the majority had voted to save him while those in the opposition wanted him sent home on grounds that farmers received substandard fertiliser.

The Eastleigh Voice understands that there was intense lobbying to save the beleaguered CS

It is understood that those opposed to his removal were of the opinion that the impeachment motion that was filed by Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami was solely because of his affair with Aldai  MP Marianne Kitany which played out during the hearings of the proceedings.

The committee chaired by Majority whip and Marsabit woman representative Naomi Waqo is expected to table its report today—10 days since it was constituted—to allow the House to deliberate on it.

Should the committee find the allegations unsubstantiated, no further proceedings shall be undertaken but should the allegations be substantiated, the CS will be expected to appear before the Assembly where he will be afforded the opportunity to be heard.

Wamboka on Sunday said that he will be opposing the report when it is tabled in the National Assembly should it clear Linturi as it will not be representing the wishes of farmers.

He decided to raise the issues with the composition of the committee saying, it is ironic that the members who voted to reject his impeachment motion were the ones who were investigating the said matter.

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi before the National Assembly Select Committee on his Proposed Dismissal on May 8, 2024. (Photo: National Assembly)

Committee members Naomi Waqo, Racheal Nyamai (Kitui South), George Murugara (Tharaka), Malulu Injendi (Malava), Kassim Tandaza (Matuga ) and Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga woman representative) who are members of the committee voted against the motion while Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka), Catherine Omanyo (Busia Woman Representative) and Yussuf Farah (Wajor West) were among the 149 members who voted to have Lituri investigated.

Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga’s vote was not captured anywhere.

Out of 188 members who were in the House, 149 MPs voted in support of the motion against 36 who opposed it while only three abstained from the vote, thereby meeting the threshold of 117 required to have the committee formed.

Wamboka also claimed that the decision of the committee not to summon Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh and KEL Chemicals Chief Operating Officer Devesh Patel, who he had argued were crucial witnesses in his motion, was a clear indication that justice would not be realised.

The decision by the committee saw Wamboka after giving his closing testimony during the hearings storming out alleging a ploy by the committee to save Linturi from ouster.

He said: “These people who contributed against the motion on the floor, went ahead to vote against it on the floor. When the critical vote came during the hearings, they voted against it. There is nothing we expect out of this process.”

“It is expected that we will get nothing but those who come from agricultural backyards, these are people who will face the wrath of the members. Tomorrow (today) It is not going to be easy but I can assure you that we will expose any underhand dealings. We will speak on the floor about this matter. This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice on it.