CS Linturi risks arrest, fine for snubbing senators
By Rawlings, October 5, 2023
A Senate committee wants Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to face sanctions including a Sh500,000 fine and arrest for defying summons for almost a year.
This was after Linturi snubbed the Agriculture Committee’s invitations and summons six times since November last year.
The Senators have been pursuing the CS to shed light on various issues, including the controversial importation of 10,000 bags of maize by his Ministry. The government imported the maize in November last year – even before an official gazette notice was released.
Linturi is also expected to respond to questions regarding the State of macadamia production and marketing. This was after the government lifted the ban on the export of macadamia before it was suspended by the High Court.
The committee has been inviting Linturi to explain the impact of the recent drought on the livestock industry as well as the relaunch of strategic food reserves. He is also expected to explain the criteria used by the government in the distribution of subsidized fertilizer.
“We have invited and summoned the CS on several occasions from last year,” Bungoma Senator David Wakoli said.
Yesterday, the Linturi failed to honour a summon that was issued two weeks ago following his failure to honour a previous invitation.
“I’m directing that a fresh summon be issued to the Cabinet Secretary to appear on Thursday next week, failure to which, the sanctions shall apply,” Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said. Maanzo chaired the session where the CS was summoned to respond to several statements sought by senators since last year.