Committee probing Linturi to start its hearings today
By Mercy.Mwai, May 7, 2024
An 11-member House committee set up to investigate the conduct of embattled Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi will start its hearings today.
The first order of business for the panel, chaired by Deputy Chief Whip and Marsabit Woman Representative Naomi Waqo, is to lay the ground for the probe and agree on the number of witnesses it would call before it tables its report in the House on Monday next week.
Among the people the committee intends to question is Linturi, who, under the House standing orders, has the right to appear and be represented at the hearings.
The committee held its preliminary meetings on Thursday and Friday last week, when Waqo was elected chairperson.
The sittings took place immediately after the House passed a motion by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka that seeks to kick Linturi out of office on the grounds that he violated the Constitution.
The committee has 10 days to investigate and table its report to the House, which will either uphold it or reject it.
If MPs find the allegations unsubstantiated, no further proceedings will take place. But if the claims are substantiated, Linturi will be expected to appear before the National Assembly and defend himself.
Besides Waqo, some of the other members of the committee are Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South), Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), George Murungara (Tharaka) and Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka).
The others are Malulu Injendi (Malava), Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga County), Kassim Sawa Tandaza (Matuga), Catherine Omanyo (Busia County), and Yusuf Farah (Wajir West).