EACC summons 10 Kisumu MCAs over chaos

Kisumu County Assembly. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has summoned at least 10 members of the assembly over the recent chaos in the House. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Chaos erupted at the County Assembly on Tuesday last week, after the chair of the budget committee Mr Steven Owiti was replaced by Central Kisumu Ward MCA Judith Ogaga.
  • A section of the ward representatives, who opposed the swearing in of Ms Ogaga on grounds that it was done un-procedurally, exchanged blows with those who supported her appointment.
  • Majority Leader Ken Onyango accused Speaker Onyango Oloo of dictatorship.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned at least 10 Kisumu Members of County Assembly over the recent chaos in the House.

The anti-graft body has also summoned Siaya County Public Service Board chairman Joe Donde over allegations of irregular employment of county staff in the past financial year.

EACC Western regional director Ignatius Wekesa said the Kisumu ward representatives, whom he declined to name, will appear before the commission from February, 27. They will be grilled over their recent conduct in the House.

“It is true we have summoned about ten of them (MCAs), they should start appearing on February 25,” Mr Wekesa told Nation.co.ke on Monday.  

Chaos erupted at the County Assembly on Tuesday last week, after the chair of the budget committee Mr Steven Owiti was replaced by Central Kisumu Ward MCA Judith Ogaga.

EXHANGED BLOWS

A section of the ward representatives, who opposed the swearing in of Ms Ogaga on grounds that it was done un-procedurally, exchanged blows with those who supported her appointment.

During the chaos that saw the session suspended for about 15minutes, one of the MCAs attempted to run with the mace outside the assembly, before he was stopped by the sergeant-at-arms.

Majority Leader Ken Onyango, who led the faction that opposed Mr Owiti’s ouster, accused Speaker Onyango Oloo of dictating operations in the assembly.  

“For as long as this house is not going to be governed procedurally, as ODM members, we are going to make it difficult for business to be transacted. Wecause we do not want Kisumu Assembly to go the direction others have gone where acrimony is the order of the day,” said Mr Onyango.

However, Mr Oloo denied that he was not following House procedures.

CONFIDENCE

“The assembly leadership received communication that the budget committee had decided to change their leadership because they lacked confidence in (Mr) Owiti,” said Mr Oloo.

Mr Donde is to appear before the commission Tuesday to shed light on a petition from a lobby group calling for investigations on alleged irregular appointments.

“To facilitate investigations, you are requested to appear before the commission on 26/02/2019 to shed more light on the matter,” read part of the letter from EACC.

The public service board chairman has been accused of employing people without proper academic qualifications.  

When he appears before the commission on Tuesday, Mr Donde is expected to present original documents including the advertisement for various positions by the public service board, list of applicants and their qualifications and the board’s interviews report.