The Siaya County executive on Friday appealed to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to commence investigations into the conduct of Orengo’s deputy William Oduol.
The county termed his allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the current administration malicious and ill-intended.
Orengo through the Chief of Staff Col. Rt. Cyrus Oguna said that EACC is legally mandated to conclusively probe the issues raised and hold any culpable persons to account.
“The law mandates the EACC to investigate any violations against the law and, or code of ethics by state and public officers,” the officers said in an apparent reference to Oduol.
In particular, the Siaya county executive wants the issues raised by Oduol investigated.
They include whether county officers from certain sub-counties within Siaya have been victimized by the administration; whether monies initially allocated for Siaya County Stadium were irregularly re-routed to build Migwena Stadium in Bondo and whether there has been abuse or misuse of the County imprest account.
They called on the EACC to establish whether or not withdrawals from the imprest account have been made for any other purposes other than the lawful and budgeted operations of the county government.
Further, they want EACC to establish whether any facility or privilege of Oduol has been withdrawn; whether bursary funds were misused or misapplied to other purposes rather than to support needy students and whether or not Oduol has raised any of the issues regarding financial mismanagement in writing to any appropriate organ, agency or office within the county government executive, including to the office of the Governor.
Oguna and his colleagues stressed that the work of the deputy governor is to deputize his boss as per Section 32(2) of the County Governments Act.
They also want an investigation into whether Sh18 million was spent towards the renovation of Oduol's office and under what circumstances, and whether Sh2 million paid to Oduol and the staff attached to him were justified.
"We expect the Commission to establish the facts surrounding the expenditure of approximately Sh18, 000, 000/= for the renovation of the Deputy Governor’s office," Oguna said.
The EACC is also expected to determine Whether the allowances and claims totalling approximately Sh2, 000, 000/= paid to the Deputy Governor and staff attached to his office or working with him were legitimate or justified.
The money was allegedly received by the DG and his entourage during a trip to Mombasa to attend an ICPAK meeting.
Oduol’s role in chairing of a committee on pending bills should also be investigated to establish whether he used the position for rent-seeking.
Oguna said that Orengo’s administration is willing to cooperate with the agencies to ensure that the truth is established and the people of Siaya realize development.
In the same breath, Oguna has called upon EACC to conclude an ongoing investigation into the alleged embezzlement of sh600 million by county officers.
According to Oguna, the EACC raided the homes of some county officers and collected documents to aid in the investigations but the probe is yet to be finalized more than eight months since the current administration took office.
This, the officers said, has created room for speculation.
However, speaking on Citizen TV on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, EACC Chairperson David Oginde said that the Commission is seized of various matters which are at different stages of the investigation.
The matters under probe, the EACC boss said, involved officials of both the current and former regimes in Siaya County.
“Some of the investigation files have been finalized and will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action,” said the Chairperson.
The Siaya executive faulted the DCI and the EACC for failing to take action after the Ouko Taskforce expose rot and plunder of county coffers on January 20, 2023.
The report revealed in great detail the extent of pilferage which had been unjustly visited upon the finances of the people of Siaya, said the statement, adding that a copy of the same the civil society, the media, DCI and the EACC.
Oguna was flanked by County Secretary Joseph Ogutu, Governance and Administration executive Agunda Ochanda, County Attorney Richard Owade and Agriculture Executive Sylvester K’Okoth.
