Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi displayed visible emotion during his testimony before a parliamentary committee overseeing his impeachment proceedings on Thursday.
Struggling to contain his feelings, Linturi asserted to the committee that the effort to impeach him stemmed from a personal vendetta arising from his contentious relationship with his ex-wife, Marianne Kitany, who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for Aldai Constituency.
He reiterated before the committee that the legal battles referenced in the impeachment motion, purportedly justifying his removal from office, were orchestrated.
“All these legal disputes involve parties or an individual with whom, unfortunately, I had a relationship that soured. While the details of that relationship may not be pertinent to these proceedings… She chose to bring forth numerous cases against me,” Linturi expressed emotionally.
“And of the handful of cases highlighted here, none have resulted in my defeat. It has been an incredibly painful ordeal. Reflecting on it brings me to the brink,” Linturi continued, his voice trembling with emotion.
At this juncture, Linturi’s legal counsel, Muthomi Thiankulu, intervened, urging him to draw strength from his Meru heritage.
“A Meru man does not succumb to public breakdowns, Honorable Linturi. Simply elucidate to the committee the challenges you’ve faced due to this personal dispute. Can you elaborate further on these challenges? Who instigated them, how long did they persist, and what form did they take?” Thiankulu prompted Linturi.
Summoning his resolve, Linturi recounted to the committee that many of the cases cited in the impeachment petition were politically motivated and had largely been dismissed by the courts.
He asserted that his opponents had manipulated the legal system during the lead-up to the previous election.
“Various tactics were employed to dissuade me from supporting the candidate of my choice. And since many of these cases arose during that time, certain individuals took advantage of the situation and exploited these cases, resulting in my unjust persecution,” he explained. “I have endured relentless media trials. I have been vilified… there was even an orchestrated rape allegation,” Linturi added.
Linturi faces impeachment on grounds of gross constitutional or legal violations, allegations of committing a crime under national law, and gross misconduct.
