- Oduol is set to appear before the Select Committee on Tuesday (tomorrow) to defend himself over allegations of abuse of office, gross violation of the constitution and gross misconduct.
- The 14-member committee was formed by speaker George Okode after East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru successfully moved an impeachment motion he sponsored against the DG.
Image: FILE
Ahead of Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol’s appearance before the county assembly's select Committee, the executive now claims to have fresh evidence against the embattled DG.
Oduol is set to appear before the Select Committee on Tuesday (tomorrow) to defend himself over allegations of abuse of office, gross violation of the constitution and gross misconduct.
The 14-member committee was formed by speaker George Okode after East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru successfully moved an impeachment motion he sponsored against the DG.
The committee is expected to interrogate the allegations by the MCA and make a report that will either be adopted or rejected by the assembly.
However on Monday, hours to the committee sitting, Siaya County chief of staff Col retired Cyrus Oguna disclosed that the executive has unearthed new evidence of alleged abuse of office against the DG.
Addressing a press conference at Siaya County headquarters, Oguna said they will be handing over the evidence to the EACC to aid investigations.
Last Friday, the chief of staff on behalf of the County government asked EACC to probe the DG in all the allegations he made against the Governor James Orengo-led administration.
The allegations were all dismissed by the assembly that noted the DG failed to substantiate them.
The County Government asked the commission to probe the circumstances under which the DG's office was renovated at a cost of Sh 18 million.
The Commission was further asked to establish whether the allowances paid to the DG and his entourage to attend the ICPAK meeting in Mombasa were justified.
The County Government further expect the Commission to probe the role of the DG as the chairman of the cabinet sub-committee on pending bills and whether he used the position for rent-seeking.
Further the Commission is expected to probe claims that the DG influenced tender procurement and exerted pressure on procurement officers during the process.
"We want to further add that we have identified new evidence of abuse of office by the Deputy Governor which will be handed over to the EACC to aid in their investigation," Oguna told journalists on Monday.
This evidence, he stated, touches on manipulation and influencing payment to certain contractors which is contrary to the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015, and Public Finance Management Act 2012.
"This new evidence is solid and will be made public in due course," Oguna said.
He reiterated that the issue of the Sh600 million scandals under probe is a historical issue which has been under investigation for more than 2years, long before this current government took office.
"It should therefore be understood that whoever is pushing these allegations is driven by the desire to fulfil personal interest, not the interest of the people of Siaya," he said.
Oguna noted that Orengo’s administration was elected based on its crusade against corruption.
"You may all recall that during the campaign period, the slogan of the Nyalore ( it is possible) administration was zero tolerance to corruption," he said.
"As a government, we have lived up to this and the Governor has consistently said that there will be no sacred cows in his government, including himself or anybody else," the chief of staff pointed out.
Oguna further disclosed that the administration has received a telephone communication from EACC that they are going to take action and effect arrests very soon, possibly even within this week.
"We are encouraged by these developments and we welcome the EACC to the county," Oguna said.
Oguna reaffirmed the commitment by the administration to fully cooperate with the EACC and other investigation bodies to ensure that any additional evidence identified is shared with all other relevant bodies.
He also reaffirmed the governor's commitment to deliver quality services to the people of Siaya.
"The governor has clearly stated that abuse of office and misuse of public resources will not be tolerated in this Nyalore government," he said.
But Oduol dismissed the fresh evidence claims against him as diversionary politics.
"This is impunity fighting back. It is propaganda meant to divert attention," Oduol said.
"I ask them to bring it on. This is all smoke and mirrors. They have nothing against me," he added.