Africa-Press – Kenya. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has defended his association with embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza who is facing an ouster after impeachment by the Meru county assembly.
Linturi has said he will continue working with all elected leaders across the country despite their political affiliations as he discharges his duties as a Cabinet Secretary.
Linturi was speaking on Wednesday at Chuka University’s Kiegoi Campus Grounds, Igembe South constituency in Meru county while leading the National Tree Growing and Land Restoration Campaign.
Linturi told off those criticising him for associating himself with the embattled governor.
“My ministry will work closely with all governors despite their political affiliations as we strive to improve food production and promote food security in the country,” Linturi said.
The Cabinet Secretary on Tuesday hosted Mwangaza, his former adversary at his office in Kilimo House, Nairobi, but he has now described the meeting as an official engagement that was focused on agricultural issues.
“Yes I met Mwangaza in Nairobi and I have seen some people talking ill about it. I’m a Cabinet Secretary and I will continue with my work. During our meeting we agreed on issues like desert locust invasions among other critical topics,” he said.
Mwangaza ignited a political storm in Meru on Tuesday when she posted her picture with Linturi on her social media pages with a short caption “Meru Must Be Happy.”
The embattled governor won the gubernatorial seat in the last general election as an independent candidate
The Senate has already constituted an 11-member committee to probe the charges for the impeachment of Mwangaza.
“The Senate resolves to establish a special committee comprising of 11 Senators to investigate the proposed removal from office of the Governor of Meru county and report to the senate within 10 days,” Speaker Amason Kingi said during the Senate’s Tuesday special sitting.
Linturi later headed to Nguthiru Laingi Grounds in Tigania West Constituency and Gatimbi Chief’s grounds in Central Imenti constituency for the tree planting exercise.
He was accompanied by Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Principal Secretary, Gitonga Mugambi, his Cooperatives counterpart Patrick Kiburi, Meru county commissioner Frederick Ndunga, Meru Deputy Governor Mutuma M’ethingia, MPs John Paul Mwirigi, Dan Kiili, Titus Taitumu, John Mutunga among others.
The tree planting campaign which was launched by President William Ruto on Wednesday in Kajiado County, is part of the government ambitious programme aimed at managing, conserving and expanding forests sustainably towards attaining a minimum 30 per cent forest cover nationally by 2032.
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