Written By Lisa Murimi
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has alleged that Cabinet Secretaries in the Kenya Kwanza administration often lack autonomy, particularly regarding appointments.
Speaking during an interview on Weru TV, Linturi revealed that some decisions made in his office were later overturned without his knowledge.
He cited a case where he extended the term of a director at the Pyrethrum Company of Kenya, only for the appointment to be revoked days later via a gazette notice—issued without his consent.
“Ministers have no power. They do not sign anything. Names are printed on the gazette notice claiming that they made the appointments,” Linturi claimed.
He, additionally, recalled the dismissal of Prof. Simon Thuranira as chair of Bukura Agricultural College, an action attributed to him though he had no involvement.
Linturi said he was forced to write to the government printer disowning the move.
His relationship with Head of Public Service Felix Koskei reportedly soured due to such disputes.
Linturi claimed Koskei ignored his objections and pressured him to make certain appointments.
“My relationship with Felix Koskei was very bad because he did not listen to anything I said, because I used to question some of the doings in government more than once,” he relayed.
He also raised concerns about tribal imbalance in staffing at several parastatals.
Linturi’s remarks align with earlier statements by former Attorney General Justin Muturi, who also questioned the independence of Cabinet Secretaries.
