CS Linturi, MP Kitany divorce drama resurfaces during impeachment hearing

The impeachment hearing of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi on Wednesday turned into a tale of the bitter end of his relationship with his ex-wife, Aldai Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany.

Linturi and his lawyers claimed the impeachment motion has been motivated by personal issues, especially bitterness that came from the ruling of divorce case between him and MP Kitany.

Speaking during his opening remarks, Linturi urged the committee members to throw out the allegations facing him, terming them a witch-hunt brought about by the success he has achieved in the Agriculture ministry.

The CS went ahead to refer to the ouster attempt as an “occupational hazard.”

“Whatever I have gone through for a number of years, which is also manifesting here, is not something I would want to wish any human being. It has been a long journey, and very painful going through such kind of trauma; what you see here is the same emotions I have gone through,” said an almost teary Linturi.

He relieved his divorce case proceedings and how he was taken through public shame with the proceedings being televised live.

“There is nowhere in judicial matters, nowhere a divorce matter has been covered live on TV, but let us look at this matter on the basis of evidence and facts, I am ready to defend myself,” he told the committee members.

His lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu emphasized the issues claiming LInturi is being crucified because of his image, and claimed Bumula MP Jack Wamboka – who moved the impeachment motion - is being used as a proxy.

“The man I have to represent here unfortunately has been a victim for a 5-year period of a State sponsored public shaming, public vilification and public defamation campaign. We are saying this as human beings, there is a tendency to say it’s that bad guy again,” argued the advocate.

“I represent a man who has been painted to the world as an incorrigible womanizer, criminal, thug, fraudster, scoundrel, you can call it whatever...but I represent a man who has, for a lack of a better word, is a dog that has been given a bad name, but you don’t remove a man from office for having a bad reputation.”

However, MP Wamboka dismissed the allegations accusing the CS of trivializing a serious national issue of farmers suffering after buying fake fertilizer.

“These are grievous matters of national importance to be reduced to love matters. Ukiachwa achika!" asserted Wamboka.

"It is unfair to keep dragging the good lady Marianne Kitany into this matter. She has the right ya kukukataa ama kukubali. Allow her to proceed on with her life.”

His lawyer John Khaminwa was also not amused by the issue being reduced to a love affair gone sour or politics, challenging the committee to rise above the trivial issues and find the CS unfit to hold office.

“Mama mboga would say CS Linturi should have resigned long time ago, as a matter of principle. He should not continue to be a minister in charge of Agriculture at all,” said Khaminwa.

“CS Linturi you would have done this country great honour by resigning. You would have set great precedence in this country.”