Majority Leader Beauttah Omanga addresses members of public at a past function in Nyamira. [Photo: Naftal Makori/Standard]

By Naftal Makori

Nyamira, Kenya: Leader of Majority in the County Assembly of Nyamira, Beauttah Omanga, lost his position in the County Assembly Service Board (CASB), just days after Speaker Mong’are King’oina was impeached.

Yesterday, James Mating’a of Kemera ward was sworn in as vice chairman of the board, an indication that the MCAs have ousted Omanga from the board, and from his majority leader position.

Omanga was elected on an ODM ticket to represent Bogichora ward. The Public Investments and Accounts Committee (PIAC) report on the suspicious Sh30 million medical insurance tender adversely mentioned the CASB vice chairman, who confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on March, 25, 2014 that approved payment of the service provider.

The committee claims Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 was grossly violated.

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Shifted blame

The Speaker was impeached on Monday after the report recommended that the chairman and the vice chairman to the service board take full responsibility for the role they played in the saga.

King’oina has faulted the impeachment, terming it irregular and has moved to Kisii High Court to challenge it. King’oina instead shifted blame to the vice chairman.

Speaking to The Standard on phone, Mr Omanga said the ousted speaker was using him as a scapegoat and claimed it was he who set him up.

“I read mischief in all this but with time, the truth will come out,” said Omanga.

Acting clerk Duke Onyari administered the oath to Mr Mating’a in the presence of Deputy Speaker Andrew Magangi. Mating’a vowed to serve the board diligently.

Also present during the swearing-in was County Transition Authority Coordinator Kennedy Nyaiyo, who urged the board to start on a clean slate.

Board accused

Nyaiyo faulted the recruitment process at the County Assembly, where less qualified persons were employed by the board, chaired by King’oina.

The board was accused of employing over 60 people against 36 positions that were advertised, something Nyaiyo termed as a “grievous irregularity”.

 Operations at the assembly have been grounded since the Speaker’s impeachment. Without a functional board, since the vice chairman was implicated in the scandal hence cannot assume the board’s chairman position, it would be a herculean task replacing the already impeached Speaker.