Vihiga County residents today protested the appointment of Francis Ominde as the New County secretary. They staged a demo towards the County Government offices at Mbale, seeking an audience with Governor Wilber Otichilo.
Lead by Vulimu Munyora they accused the County Public Service Board and the County assembly of not adhering to laid down procedures for the appointment of the County secretary.
They said the appointment was influenced by a bribe, “We have information there are some officers from the Board and some Members of the County Assembly Appointment Committee who received money to push for the appointment of the mentioned individual,” they said.
The three names that were forwarded to the Governor for appointment were former Nandi County Secretary Francis Ominde, Musalia Mudavadi’s Communication Aid Kibisu Kabatesi and Vihiga High School Principal Ezekiel Ayiego.
The Munyora lead group wants Governor Otichilo to nullify the appointment of the officer and the whole exercise be conducted afresh because of the flawed appointment exercise.
Addressing them at his office, Governor Ottichilo remained adamant that it’s the mandate of the County Public Service Board is to advertise for the position, conduct the interviews and forward three names to him from which he chose the most suited candidate for the position, that his or her name could be approved by the County Assembly.
He said he put into consideration regional balance, where the Governor comes from Banyore Community in Emuhaya, Deputy Governor Patrick Saisi who comes from Tiriki Community in Hamisi Sub County, the Speaker of the County Assembly Hasna Mudeizi who comes from Sabatia Sub County and now the County Secretary who has to come from Vihiga Sub County which had been left out.
He said Mr. Ominde was well suited for the position from the vast experience he has over the years in previous appointments.
