NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has raised concerns about the lack of autonomy for Cabinet Secretaries in the Kenya Kwanza government, particularly regarding appointments.
During an interview on Weru TV, Linturi recalled instances where decisions he made regarding appointments were revoked without his knowledge, highlighting the lack of authority in his former role.
One such incident involved an appointment he made to the Pyrethrum Company of Kenya (PCK), which was unexpectedly annulled through a gazette notice just two days later, despite Linturi using his office to confirm the appointment to the director.
Linturi emphasized that ministers often do not have the power to make decisions, with names being printed in the gazette while the actual authority lies elsewhere.
This lack of decision-making power also extended to other appointments.
Linturi referred to an instance where his close associate, Prof. Simon Thuranira, was dismissed from his position as chairperson of Bukura Agricultural College, despite Linturi not being involved in the decision.
Linturi expressed frustration at having his name used for decisions he was not part of, prompting him to write to the government printer to clarify his lack of involvement.
Linturi’s comments align with similar statements from former Attorney General and CS Justin Muturi, reinforcing concerns about the lack of agency for Cabinet Secretaries within the government.
He also pointed out that in some parastatals, a single ethnic group held a disproportionate number of seats, raising concerns about tribal representation in state institutions.
The former CS further discussed his rocky relationship with Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, mentioning several instances where his objections to appointment decisions led to tensions.
Despite efforts to advocate for change, Linturi found little support from Koskei, especially regarding the renewal of contracts for certain individuals, which he claims were done out of protest.
Linturi’s revelations shed light on the internal struggles within the Kenya Kwanza government, calling into question the transparency and fairness of the appointment process and highlighting ongoing issues of leadership autonomy and accountability.
