Members of Vihiga County assembly have said they will summon Governor Wilber Ottichilo to appear before the assembly ad hoc committee to explain the role of chief of staff whom he appointed to serve in his office. The members noted that there is a public outcry over the Vihiga County chief of staff Noah Okaya who is being accused of overstepping on his mandate.
The MCAs decried that the chief of staff has influenced the operation of the Vihiga County public service and executive by engaging in illegal transfers of county staff. “We are planning to summon Governor Wilber Ottichilo to appear before the assembly ad hoc committee to explain the role of chief of staff Noah Okaya whom he appointed to serve in his office. We have received numerous complains which must be addressed with immediate effect,” said MCAs.
MCAs Vincent Atsiaya, Collins Anyanje, Gladys Analo, Patrick Akhwale, Zakayo Manya, Vena Kaisha, decried that they have received complaints about the irregular transfers of health staff particularly the Nurses from the health faculties in their wards. They cited Emuhaya Sub-county hospital, Hamisi sub-county hospital and Sabatia as worst affected where some nurses were irregularly transferred while others sacked.
“We want to know why the chief of staff has influenced the irregular transfer of nurses in various health facilities in our wards. Does he have the mandate to transfer or sack health staff as chief of staff?” they posed.
On Tuesday, The Assembly ad hoc committee summoned the County Public Service Board chairlady Caroline Enane to explain to the committee the roles of chief of Staff.
The Ad hoc committee headed by Henry Asava who is Sabatia West MCA asked the CPSB chairlady to explain the role of the chief of staff and if he has authority to make transfers or sack the County staff and transact finances on behalf of the county government.
In response, Enane told the committee that the County chief of staff is a political appointee of the Governor whose duty is to help the Governor achieve his mission. He said the chief of staff has no authority or powers to influence the operation of the county public service board or to make any transfers. She added that the chief of staff as an aid to the governor has no powers to make any financial transactions on behalf of the county.
“The chief of staff is just an aide to the Governor and he has no powers to influence the operations of the County Public Service Board and the executive. He has no signature to transact any businesses on behalf of the executive and the public service board,” said Enane. She said the transfers of the County staff lies in the hands of County secretary or chief officers heading the ministry.
