Meru Leaders Plead With William Ruto To Save Mithika Linturi: "The Best Performing Minister"

• Meru leaders warned President William Ruto that impeaching CS Mithika Linturi equated to a direct assault on DP Rigathi Gachagua
• They cautioned that Linturi's removal would essentially be expelling the entire community from government, asserting their stake in the administration
• Emphasising Linturi's effectiveness, they argued his dismissal would disrupt the stability of Ruto's leadership
• The leaders urged Ruto to safeguard Linturi, asserting his innocence in the fertiliser controversy and demanding a favorable report from the investigating committee

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Meru - A section of leaders from Mt Kenya East have come out to defend Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.

During an event in Meru, the leaders appealed to President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to ensure Linturi retains his job.

Led by Meru deputy governor Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia and County Assembly speaker Ayub Bundi, the leaders warned Rigathi that any attempt to impeach the CS is a direct attack on him as their Mt Kenya leader in Ruto's government.

"Simama na kijana yetu, this is the only CS that we have in Meru and we know that when Mithika is safe, the people of Meru and Kenya will be safe," said the leaders.

What was Meru leaders' warning to Ruto?

The leaders further warned that removing Linturi from government would be removing the whole community, adding that they have shares in government.

They claimed Linturi was the best performing CS, and removing him would destabilise Ruto's administration.

According to the leaders, Mithika is only a policy maker and should not be embroiled in issues related to fake fertiliser.

"Don't let your government be tarnished by removing the best-performing minister. We ask for the time for the Meru community to know that our president loves the Meru people and also loves Kenyans, it is now. The committee of 11 members in the National Assembly who are tasked with investigating and submitting a report, we ask that you submit a report that states Mithika is not at fault," Mutuma said.

MPs approve motion to impeach Linturi

Earlier, Members of the National Assembly approved a motion proposed by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka to impeach Linturi.

Wamboka, who proposed the impeachment motion, alleged that Linturi mismanaged funds at the Agriculture ministry, indicating incompetence.

In the voting process on Thursday, May 2, 149 MPs supported the motion to remove the embattled CS in solidarity with Wamboka, while 36 MPs opposed it.

Approval of an impeachment motion against a CS requires the support of one-third of MPs, equivalent to 117 members.

In the recent voting session, 188 MPs participated, with three absent. Proponents constituted 79.26% of the vote, while opponents comprised 19.15%.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke