Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa on Friday defended former Meru senator Mithika Linturi over the withdrawal of a motion that sought the removal from office of then Devolution CS Anne Waiguru.
Linturi was appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting as Agriculture CS.
Matungulu MP Stephen Mule questioned him why he skipped sittings on the day MPs were to debate the motion in the 11th Parliament.
The petition sought Waiguru’s ouster over the Sh791 million loss in the National Youth Service.
Mule said Linturi wanted the motion passed by urging his fellow MPs to sign it which they did, but he disappeared on the day the motion came up for consideration.
Mule wanted Linturi to assure them that he will not abandon farmers once approved as Agriculture CS.
“We do not want a CS that might abandon farmers,” he said.
In defence, Linturi said he was forced to withdraw the motion following direct orders from State House.
He told MPs that it was a kin to a gun being pointed at his head and being told to sign the letter informing then Speaker Justin Muturi that he had withdrawn the motion.
“The letter to withdraw the motion was drafted by Njee Muturi, I was asked to sign. Speaker Muturi was called, I think he was in Kilimani, he was told to go back to the House that there is a letter that is being brought to withdraw that Motion,” he said.
He claimed that the letter was delivered by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Private Secretary Jomo Gecaga to drop the censure motion in June 2014.
“Jomo Gecaga, past 8 O’clock, delivered the letter to the then Speaker Muturi. Those are the circumstances that I found myself in. And I signed the letter and the President was there then,” he added.
The motion was the following day dropped on a technicality since Linturi as the mover was not present.
Ichung’wa confirmed the turn of events.
“I was directed by none other than President Uhuru Kenyatta to ship Linturi out of this country on a trip we were going to Turkey on that weekend,” the former vice chair of the Public Investment Committee. said.
He proceeded to deny conniving to ruin Linturi’s integrity.
