William Oduol disowns Sh1m chair, exposes more rot

"Not only is that a violation of the law, but it also demonstrates the assembly is in bed with the executive," Oduol stated. "The assembly is emasculated by the executive through the money they receive, Sh7 million to Sh8 million monthly."

On Wednesday, Yimbo East MCA Francis Otiato was at pains to explain Sh70,000 deposits made by the county executive into his bank account, funds also disbursed to other MCAs.

"The county assembly is independent, interdependent, but autonomous when it comes to financial matters," Oduol told the committee. During cross-examination, the county assembly's lawyer Willis Otieno alluded to the point that the payments could have resulted from joint activities between the executive and the assembly.

"Each organ has their budget. The executive has its budget, as does the assembly," Oduol countered. "The 'joint' statement is one the assembly and the executive have used to defraud Siaya."

He highlighted alleged bribery as part of a larger scheme to eject him from office after he unearthed and went public about the multi-million shilling plunder that had taken root within the county executive. Oduol said Governor James Orengo did nothing to stem the theft.

Oduol laid bare multi-million shilling scandals that have dogged the county since August last year. Among them is one that saw some Sh176 million withdrawn in the guise of financing pending bills for road works not approved. He said when he and Orengo got into office they found pending bills worth Sh1 billion, which was reviewed downwards to Sh818 million after audit.

"A pending bill worth Sh176 million was sneaked in through a cabinet meeting and I protested until an audit was conducted," he said of a March 29 cabinet meeting where the said the pending bill was introduced.

"In a memo, I asked the county secretary to investigate the additional pending bills but no investigation was conducted. I don't know the fate of the pending bills... the finance minister told me the minister of roads withdrew the money," Oduol told the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang'-led committee.

Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol before the Senate Special Committee at County Hall on June 21, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

That followed a Sh100 million scandal withdrawn from the county's coffers as imprest in multiple instalments within three months, money he said the chief finance officer Jack Odinga had explained was taken to the governor meant to "finance government operations".

"To finance government operations is a very political term," he said, questioning the vagueness of the explanation for the withdrawals Oduol said were made between November last year and January.

According to Oduol, corruption took root even before he and Orengo assumed office as he revealed that the assumption of office committee had cheated the county out of millions. "The assumption of office committee withdrew Sh18 million and spent Sh4 million, a matter under investigation by the EACC," he said.

But he was hard-pressed to explain why he did not file formal complaints about the alleged plunder of public resources, stating he had futilely tried to have Orengo take action against corrupt officials. He said he wrote to the EACC, which he said was investigating the withdrawal of huge sums as imprest.

The beleaguered DG defended himself against forcing the Sh18 million renovation of his office that included the purchase of a Sh1 million seat and a table of the same amount, stating that he was not involved in procurement.

"I am shocked that we spent Sh1 million for that average chair," he said after the seat was presented to the committee. "We need to establish from the accounting officer whether we got value for money... if any of my officers is responsible, they should be held accountable."

Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma pointed out that Oduol had summoned officers to request his office's renovation. "Here you are summoning officers... can you even say you were not involved in the renovations?" Mumma posed.

Procurement officers Wednesday told the committee that the purchase of the chair was above board.