CS Linturi snubs court order, receives CASs at Agriculture ministry
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has received the recently appointed Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) to his ministry despite a court order barring them from taking office.
Linturi posted on his official Twitter account that he had welcomed Jackson Kiptanui and Daniel Wamahiu Kiongo at Kilimo House on Wednesday and had a discussion with them on how to improve the welfare of farmers in the country.
“I have had the pleasure to receive the recently appointed CASs to my Ministry; Hon. Jackson Kiptanui & Mr. Daniel Wamahiu Kiongo at Kilimo House. We have had a discussion, and they have conveyed their eagerness & determination to go the extra mile for the betterment of our farmers.” he tweeted1.
“With such a competent team, I am confident that our joint endeavours will fulfill the Kenya Kwanza vision of ensuring Food and Nutrition security for Kenya and further advancing our position as a food hub in the continent.” he added1.
However, Linturi’s move has been seen as a defiance of a High Court order issued last week that temporarily stopped the swearing-in of 50 CASs appointed by President William Ruto.
Following twin petitions by the Law Society of Kenya and activists challenging Ruto’s appointment of 50 CASs rather than the 23 recommended by the Public Service Commission, Justice Hedwig Ong’udi denied the CASs’ requests to set aside the temporary orders issued last week.
The legal dispute centers on the High Court’s authority to hear and decide the lawsuits, as well as whether the court will allow LSK and Katiba Institute to amend their petition.
Linturi, who was appointed Agriculture CS in October 2022, has been at the forefront of several initiatives aimed at increasing food production in the country, such as distributing subsidised fertiliser to farmers, improving soil fertility, and promoting rice consumption.