Siaya residents have raised concerns over claims that Governor James Orengo has earmarked certain individuals already indicted by his predecessor Cornel Rasanga over corruption, for redeployment to plum positions in his administration amid protests over graft that has dogged the devolved unit.
Orengo on Tuesday sent on compulsory leave county secretary Joseph Ogutu and all county chief officers to allow a forensic audit.
He also unveiled the seven-member task force chaired by former Auditor General Edward Ouko to audit the county’s financial and human resource systems.
He announced a complete overhaul and major changes in the county’s finance and economic planning department in the wake of an alleged corruption case worth more than Sh 400 million.
But despite positive gesture by Orengo to deal with graft, impeccable sources within his administration have made damning revelations that certain individuals suspended by Rasanga in the previous regime could find their way back into the system.
The individuals include some officials already charged alongside former County Secretary Kephas Marube while others are still under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
A leaked list of Orengo’s nominees to plum positions have revealed the names, which are reportedly fronted by Deputy Governor William Oduol, in exchange for a “weekly retainer of cash,” said to be their protection fee.
They are said to have coalesced around Orengo-Oduol team during the campaigns in a bid to find their way back into the Orengo administration.
They are; former Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Dennis Nyonje, Michael Ogolla (Finance Director) Dennis Simiyu who was a cashier in the Finance department, former Directors Peter Otieno (Education), Jacod Oduor (Revenue) and Collins Owino (Audit).
Mr Nyonje, Mr Ogolla and Mr Simiyu are still under investigation by the DCI over the alleged loss of Sh 600 million from the county coffers.
Mr Otieno was indicted over the Sh 70 million education scandal in the Rasanga regime while Mr Oduor had been surcharge over the loss of more than Sh 50 million from the revenue department.
Further still, Mr Owino was charged alongside Mr Marube, the former County Secretary over graft.
On Wednesday, some residents protested the absorption of the officials into the new system despite being tainted, a move they said “will be rejected in toto.”
“We have reliable information that Orengo through Oduol have hired some of the said individuals for bankrolling their campaigns despite being under investigation and their integrities being in question,” this we won’t accept,” said Mr Luke Odundo.
An official who declined to be named say that Peter Otieno, Jacob Oduor and Collins Owino have already been hired by Orengo in his administration, despite integrity queries hanging around their necks.
“They have already taken offices despite their integrity queries.”
Some former staff in Rasanga’s government are also said to be planning a go slow to frustrate services over claims of being targeted by the new regime.
A representative of the workers said they could consider going on a go slow so that they are called on the negotiating table for assurance that they will not be unfairly targeted.
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