Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi could become the first close ally of President William Ruto to face expulsion from the Cabinet after Speaker Moses Wetangula allowed an impeachment motion against him.
The motion, presented by Bumula Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka, aims to remove Linturi from Cabinet on grounds of gross misconduct, gross violation of the Constitution, and committing a crime under national law.
Speaker Wetangula granted approval for the motion, stating that it met all the legal requirements and standing orders. He allowed MP Wamboka to move the impeachment motion, saying, “Consequently, the grounds for dismissal of the Agriculture CS, as contained in the proposed motion, comply with the requirements of standing order 641a and 66.”
“In view of the foregoing, the proposed special motion meets the applicable procedural requirement for it to be admitted to the next stage,” Wetangula ruled.
According to the Speaker’s decision, the House is required to address the motion within 7 days after it has been presented. He warned that failure to do so would result in the motion being considered collapsed.
Members are scheduled to debate the motion on Thursday after its introduction by the Bumula MP, met with cheers from other members.
During the debate, the House will decide whether to form a committee of 11 members to investigate the allegations against the CS and determine his guilt. Speaker Wetangula stated that the committee would be established if 117 MPs vote in favor. The committee will have 10 days to conduct the investigation before reporting back to the House.
“The Select Committee shall within 10 days report to the assembly whether it finds the allegations against the Cabinet Secretary to be substantiated or otherwise,” part of the Speaker’s ruling read.
“If the Select Committee report finds that the allegations are unsubstantiated, no further proceedings are taken thereafter. However, if the Select Committee report finds that the allegations are substantiated, the House is required to afford the CS an opportunity to be heard and a vote whether to approve a resolution requiring dismissal of the Cabinet Secretary.”
Wamboka expressed confidence in having enough evidence to justify the CS’s removal and recommended to the President his dismissal from office.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi urged fellow members to attend Thursday’s session in large numbers, describing the motion as the last resort for holding those in power accountable.
“Today I am a very happy man; you have made history and you have put this House on the pedestal of a transformative institution that adheres to the rule of law and constitutionalism,” said Wandayi.
“This motion is the last resort that the people of this country through their elected leadership can take as a way of holding to account those that have been put in service of the nation. I appeal to colleague members to turn in large members so that we can speak in one voice, we can speak for the defenseless Kenyans.”
