Agriculture Minister Nominee Denies Ever Working with Former Minister Linturi
In a recent development, Dr. Mwihia Karanja, the nominee for the position of Agriculture and Livestock Minister, has firmly denied ever working with or assisting former Minister Mithika Linturi. The denial follows claims circulating on social media shortly after Dr. Karanja’s appointment by President William Ruto on July 19, 2024.
During an interview with a special committee on August 2, 2024, Dr. Karanja expressed surprise at the allegations, stating he had neither met nor worked with Linturi in any capacity, either professionally or personally. This response came after Kimani Ichung’wah, the Majority Leader in the National Assembly and MP for Kikuyu, requested clarification on Dr. Karanja’s alleged connections with the former minister.
Dr. Karanja emphasized his unfamiliarity with Linturi, stating, “The claim of being his assistant is quite surprising. Before this committee, I confirm that I have never met the former minister and have never served as his personal assistant.”
The issue of corruption also surfaced during the hearing, as Junet Mohamed, MP for Suna East, warned that Dr. Karanja might face dismissal after a year if corruption within the ministry, attributed to corrupt traders, is not addressed. Mohamed highlighted that these corrupt individuals have infiltrated government offices, committing crimes without facing consequences.
Mohamed cautioned Dr. Karanja to be vigilant and proactive in tackling corruption, or risk facing the same fate as the former minister Mithika Linturi.
In response, Dr. Karanja assured both the MP and the Kenyan public that, if approved by the committee, he would make every effort to remove corrupt traders from the ministry. He stated, “I recognize that dealing with corrupt traders is a significant challenge. I have various strategies to address this issue. If confirmed by this committee, I am giving notice to these corrupt traders to exit their illicit activities. I will adhere to the regulations I respect and will not tolerate sabotage.”
