• The County Public Service Board has called for applications for the post.
• Qualified women, youths and persons with disability have been encouraged to apply.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Lake Region Economic Bloc CEO Abala Wanga will act as Kisumu city manager for six months.
A letter by County Public Service Board secretary Hesbon Hongo dated September 25 says the appointment will be for six months or until the position is substantively filled, whichever comes first.
The letter also directed outgoing city manager Doris Ombara to hand over to Wanga before proceeding on terminal leave next month.
"A comprehensive handover notes duly signed should be submitted to the city board chairman and copies to the county secretary before October 1, 2020," it added.
It has informed Wanga that "during this period, you will be paid an acting allowance at the rate of 20 per cent of your substantive basic salary. All other terms of employment remain the same."
Already, the county government has advertised the post and urged qualified women, youths and persons with disability to apply. The CPSB cited Article 184 of the Constitution and Section 29 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011, to back its decision.
Applications must be received by October 8. The successful applicant will have a three-year contract.
Ombara 's term ended on August 14 after a three-month extension. "I am leaving the city a happy and grateful lady. I feel fulfilled and grateful for the opportunity given to me to serve. I will look back with pride and gratitude,” she said.
Her tenure was, however, not smooth sailing as it was marred by attempts to kick her out of office. She weathered the storm.
In 2016, she was involved in a legal battle with former Governor Jack Ranguma, who had transferred her from the docket to the Lake Front Development Secretariat, then a new county agency.
To Ombara, this amounted to demotion, but Ranguma insisted it was a promotion and a reward for her hard work that "transformed the county".
Ombara argued that she was being sent to head a nonexistent agency. She got her job back after the court battle.
On May 21 this year, Ombara was in the spotlight yet again, this time for being in office despite the CPSB's decision to send her on terminal leave with effect from May 15.
The board, in a letter dated May 13, directed her to promptly proceed on leave and hand over to county assembly assistant clerk Peter Anditi, who is also the board's secretary.
“You will recall that you were appointed as a city manager for a period of five years beginning August 15, 2015,” read the letter signed by board chairman Elijah Adul.
"The purpose of this letter is to remind you that your said contract of employment is set to elapse on August 14, 2020. You should, therefore, proceed on leave immediately from May 15, 2020.”
The letter was copied to Governor Anyang' Nyong’o, county secretary Godfrey Kigochi, county assembly speaker Elisha Oraro and board chairperson Babu Karan.
But Ombara stayed put, forcing Anditi to head back to the assembly. She insisted that she was advised by Kigochi to await further direction from Nyong'o, whom she referred to as the appointing authority.
"I am the one who wrote to the county secretary on my term coming to an end. I also indicated to them that I would like an extension to see the completion of the ongoing mega projects such as Uhuru Business Park," she said.
As a matter of clarity, Ombara said she had not refused to leave the office. "I will leave when I am directed so by the appointing authority."
She maintained that she had not completed her five-year contract as it had been interrupted for 18 months when Ranguma forced her out of office.
According to Ombara, some people were pushing for her removal to have their cronies awarded tenders.