11 MPs selected to probe impeachment charges against CS Linturi

Efforts to impeach Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi gained pace on Thursday after the National Assembly formed a Select Committee to investigate allegations against him.

The committee will consist of 11 members drawn from the Kenya Kwanza alliance, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, and the Jubilee Party.

The committee members include MPs: Naomi Waqo (Kenya Kwanza), Robert Mbui (Azimio), Rachael Nyamai (Jubilee), Samuel Chepkonga (Kenya Kwanza), George Murugara (Kenya Kwanza), T.J Kajwang (Azimio), and Jane Maina (Kenya Kwanza).

Others include; Malulu Injendi (Kenya Kwanza), Kassim Tandaza (Kenya Kwanza), Catherine Omanyo (Azimio) and Yusuf Farah (Azimio).

The 11-member committee shall, within ten days, report to the House whether it finds the allegations against the Cabinet Secretary to be substantiated.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka listed three grounds in the impeachment motion, namely; gross violation of the Constitution or any other law, serious reasons to believe the CS has committed a crime under national law, as well as gross misconduct.

MP Wamboka stated that there are reasons to believe CS Linturi committed a crime under the national law involving offences relating to abuse of office and false claims.

In the documents tabled, the legislator adduces reasons to believe Linturi committed a crime of forgery, uttering false documents and procuring execution of documents by false pretences contrary to section 353 and 355 of the penal code.

If the Select Committee reports that it finds the allegations are unsubstantiated, no further proceedings shall be taken.

However, if the committee finds the allegations are substantiated, the National Assembly shall afford the Cabinet Secretary an opportunity to be heard.

If the motion to adopt the report of the Select Committee obtains the support of the majority of the House membership, which is capped at 176 members, then the President will have no choice but to relieve the CS of his duties.

The committee was formed after a heated debate on the floor with a section of Kenya Kwanza MPs led by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah putting up a strong defence for CS Linturi.

“Wamboka has completely failed to show us the nexus between the allegations that he was speaking about and the person he seeks to remove from office. Indeed, in his own submission, he has alluded to issues touching on procurement and distribution of fertilizer by the NCPB,” Ichung’wah stated.

Ichung’wah expressed fears that the impeachment motion against the CS could be a decoy to hide the real individuals culpable in the scandal and an attempt to impede the ongoing investigation by the House.

“Wamboka is calling on this House to make a political declaration in the impeachment of a CS but gets absolutely no value in the fight against corruption. Allow our committee on Agriculture to expedite its inquiry, find those who were culpable to be charged before court,” he said.

However, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi implored the House to pass the motion and form the committee to investigate the issues that had been raised.

“Linturi by now should have actually voluntarily resigned. Failure to do so, the appointing authority who is the President of the Republic of Kenya should have taken the most logical action and fired him,” Wandayi stated.

He urged lawmakers to uphold their mandate by supporting the motion saying CS Linturi’s impeachment is the last resort for Kenyans since the President Ruto administration has declined to sack him.

“And because both Linturi and the President have failed to do what the Constitution requires them to do, this House has got a duty to take this CS home,” remarked Wandayi.

The House passed the motion, with 149 members supporting the motion, 36 opposing it and 3 others abstaining.