Court allows EACC to probe Mithika Linturi's 'papers'

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi addresses campaign coordinators at Thiiri Centre in Meru on June 9, 2017. Mr Linturi is being probed over claims that he falsified an IEBC document. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Linturi has been summoned to respond to the allegation and record a statement.
  • Mr Linturi has enjoined the IEBC, Meru returning officer and EACC as first, second and third respondents.

Igembe South MP and Meru senatorial candidate Mithika Linturi has lost his bid to stop the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from summoning him over the credibility of a self-declaration form he issued to the electoral agency.

Justice Said Juma Chitembwe of the Meru High Court, in his ruling Friday, said the EACC investigation is part of an administrative action and the court cannot interfere.

Judge Chitembwe also said Mr Linturi will still be given an opportunity to be heard before a final decision is made.

FAKE PAPERS
The two-term lawmaker sued to stop the EACC from investigating him for allegedly falsely declaring on a form in the 2013 elections that he had a bachelor of commerce degree in insurance.

"There will be no irreparable damage to be suffered by the petitioner if he is to appear before the commission .

"We are all governed by the Constitution. Granting orders being sought by the petitioner is tantamount to barring EACC from carrying [out] its duty," Judge Chitembwe said.

HONOUR SUMMON

The judge said no individual is above the law and the Igembe South MP should not find it difficult to appear before the anti-graft agency for questioning.

"The application lacks merit and is dismissed with no costs," he said in his 28-page ruling.

But shortly after the verdict, the Mr Linturi, through lawyer Mugambi Kiogora, applied for a stay order pending application for amendments of the petition; he was given three days.

PENALTY
In a letter by EACC deputy executive officer Michael Mubea dated June 15, Mr Linturi has been summoned to the agency's headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi to respond to the allegation and record a statement.

"The commission is investigating allegations touching on your conduct as a state officer in relation to the information provided to the IEBC in your self-declaration form in the year 2013," part of the letter read.

The letter states that if the MP fails to appear before the commission, he will attract a fine of Sh300,000 or imprisonment of not less than three years or both.

CLEAN RECORD
Mr Linturi has enjoined the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Meru returning officer and EACC as first, second and third respondents, respectively.

Lawyer Kiogora urged the court to hear the matter urgently, arguing his client is a duly nominated Jubilee candidate for the county position by virtue of a nomination certificate issued by the returning officer on May 28.

He said Mr Linturi has never been notified by the two agencies of any investigations against him, and that he has never been charged in court for any wrongdoing.

MALICE
In his affidavit, Mr Linturi said that he has learnt through media outlets that the anti-corruption outfit intimates to have carried out investigations, which revealed that he had falsified the self-declaration form.

"Out of the third respondent's biased report malicious people have now approached the IEBC through a complaint filed with its nomination dispute resolution committee, whereby the complainant prays that it be determined that I was not duly nominated and that my nomination was void," he said.