EACC blocked from probing MP Mithika Linturi over forged academic papers claims

**Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi. (Photo: Courtesy)**

High Court has barred Ethics and Ant-Corruption Commission from investigating Meru Jubilee Senatorial candidate Mithika Linturi.

Linturi moved to the high court on Tuesday following the EACC’s summon to record a statement at Integrity House over claims of forging academic papers.

EACC had directed the legislator, who is the outgoing Igembe South MP, to face the sleuths on June 23 but that has now been shelved following the court’s intervention.

Instead, Justice Chitembwe suspended the summons pending a hearing of the case filed through lawyer Kiogora Mugambi.

“The letter asking the petitioner (Linturi) to appear before ECC is suspended until the petition is heard on June 27th, 2017 at 2.30 pm,” Justice Chitembwe directed.

On 20th of this month, EACC deputy CEO Michael Mubea wrote to the outspoken MP asking him to present himself this Friday to shed more light on the allegations.

The MP is among the 106 politicians that the EACC had forwarded to the electoral agency as among those who have pending integrity questions.

He is accused of lying in the self-declaration forms forwarded to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in 2013 as being a holder of a degree from the University of Nairobi.

“EACC investigations established that the MP is not a graduate of the UoN and that he falsified declaration form to IEBC in 2013 and thus capable,” the report sent to IEBC revealed.

Linturi, has since been cleared to contest for the Meru senatorial seat on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party ticket, since the dossier from EACC was not considered by IEBC in clearing candidates.