CS Mithika Linturi survives impeachment

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi before a select Committee on May 9, 2024, at the Mini Chambers, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Members of Parliament have exonerated Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi in the fake fertiliser probe.

Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Jillo Waqo, who chaired an 11 member committee tasked with probing Linturi, said claims against the Cabinet Secretary were unsubstantiated.

Seven members voted against Linturi's dismissal while four dissented.

"The allegation under ground 1 on gross violation of the constitution, ground 2 on serious reasons for believing the Cabinet Secretary has committed a crime under national law and ground 3 on the gross misconduct as outlined on the special motion are unsubstantiated," said Waqo.

Linturi faced allegations of constitutional violations, including the approval of fraudulent fertiliser procurement and distribution by the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

During the hearing, the MPs were treated to the Cabinet Secretary's dramatic affair with his former wife and now Aldai MP Maryanne Keitany.

Keitany has since requested to have any matters about her expunged from the report.

"When the proceedings of this particular motion were going on, I was adversely mentioned by the CS to the effect that I was even the sponsor of this motion. I requested to appear before the committee so that I can explain myself because I had been adversely mentioned. Because I was not given that opportunity, I request that anything that was mentioned regarding me be expunged from the report," said Keitany.