Embattled Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mithika Linturi, wason Thursdaycaught in an awkward situation when hewas forcedto abandon a key summit under his docket to defend himself against ouster from office.
As President William Ruto hosted the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH) at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Mr Linturi was at County Hall barely a half a kilometre away from the summit confronting grave charges that have a potential of scuttling his long political career.
In ordinary circumstances, CS Mithika would have been at the forefront of the summit, together with the African Heads of State, ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs and Agriculture, aswell ashigh-ranking government officials.
Kindiki goes after political guns-for-hire Fake fertiliser scam: Chickens come home to roostTheeventskey highlights revolved around the role of fertiliser and soil health in stimulating pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture. The provision of subsidized fertilisers to farmers is one of PresidentRutosflagship projects, making the summit crucial for his administration that promised to subsidise production.
But he was instead before an 11-member committee conducting his impeaching hearings. Crestfallen, Mr Linturiinseveralinstancescame close to breaking down to tears as his love affair with Aldai MP, Marianne Kitany, permeated the proceedings.
He described his impeachment motion as part of awiderscheme to bring him down politically, revisiting how proceedings of his divorce with Ms Kitany were made public for amarriage that was never there.
'Whatever I have gone through for years, whichis also manifesting itselfhere, is not something I would wish on any human being. It has been alongpainful journey. When I thought I had gone through that kind of trauma, the motion is here with the same stories thatI'vebeen trying to fight for years,' the CS told the team on Wednesday.
'It isvery painfulfor me because when I took over theMinistry, the country was in a crisis. We did not have food and were trying to import it. But wemanaged to produce67 million bags within the first year in office. I will soldier on because this is what I would call an occupational hazard, itcomes with the job I am doing.
Before the event, Mr Mithika shared a poster of the event, indicating that he would be one of the participants.
The summit, whichis setto conclude on Thursday, started on Tuesday in a ceremony that was addressed by the troubled Minister.
Iam deeply honoured toextend a warm welcome tomy esteemed colleagues, the Agriculture Ministers, gathered here in Nairobi, Kenya, for the pivotal African Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSH).I joined the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, in inaugurating the AFSH Summit 2024 at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi,Mr Linturi said.
He said the discussion surrounding Soil Health resonates universally as every nation shares the needto sustainably provide food for its population.
Iam heartened by the engagement of Kenyan experts in shaping the Soil Health Initiative and crafting a comprehensive 10-year Action Plan across various platforms. Our gratitude extends to the commendable leadership of AUDA-NEPAD and AUC in this endeavor,he said.
In his remarks, Mr Linturi noted thata mere18 percent of thecountrysland is deemed arable for cultivation.
This places immense strain on the soil within these agricultural domains to sustainably yield enough sustenance forbothlocal consumption and international trade. Consequently, urgent action is imperative not only to harness these lands judiciously but also to ensure their stewardship in a manner that preserves their fertility for posterity,he said.
