Siaya assembly approves board nominees

The Siaya County Assembly has approved three nominees to the County Public Service Board.

The nominees were brought before the House after Siaya County Governor Cornel Rasanga sacked Christine Oyuu (Water and Irrigation), Benard Arum (Trade and Industry) and Francis Ngesa (Roads and Public Works) over alleged incompetence.

The list was unanimously approved during a special sitting confirming Hezbon Olum Gondi, Pamela Akelo and Chero Oduor Omondi in the Trade and Industry, Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Roads and Public works portfolios respectively.

The Appointment committee, after vetting the nominees on Thursday, recommended that they be approved and this was supported by members of the Assembly.

After approving the appointment of the three county executive committee members who have filled the positions left vacant following the sacking of Cabinet members by  the Governor, the House embarked on the business of seeking clarification on the whereabouts of the Sh108 million that was allegedly brought for recruiting medical staff.

 During the deliberations, members of the County Assembly wanted clarification on whether the Public Service Board (PSB) received a letter regarding the recruitment of medical staff and if they have any plans to recruit the health workers.

The PSB chairman Joe Donde who was present admitted to have received a circular towards the recruitment of the health staff, adding that they are always ready to recruit more health workers upon request.

 Asked whether they received the contentious Sh108 million from the Ministry of Health, the county executive committee member for finance Cleophas Ombogo stated that the County Government did not receive that money.         

“The County Directors of health and the Secretary’s of the county public service boards countrywide were directed to conduct recruitment of various cadres of health staffs but there was no indication of how the counties would access the  Sh108 million that was allocated to all the 47 counties,” stated Mr Ombogo.