Kisii ex-speaker David Kombo, aide in court over alleged job scandal

Former Kisii County Assembly Speaker David Kombo being sworn into office by County Clerk James Nyaoga after he was elected as the new speaker after garnering 45 votes defeating his closest challenger Rashid Minyonga who got 22 votes. [File / Standard]

Former Kisii Speaker David Kombo and a staff of the County's Assembly have been arraigned in Court over an alleged employment scandal.

Kombo who also served for two terms as South Mugirango MP was arrested on Monday evening at Kajiado before he was transported to Kisii.

His aide Daniel Mbaka Omwoyo was also nabbed within Kisii Town before he was presented to the Kisii Law Courts where they were charged with abuse of office and alleged irregular employment of a female employee.

The two appeared before Kisii Senior Principal Magistrate Joshua Nyariki where they denied charges of abuse of office. 

Omwoyo who was the first to be arraigned on Monday was charged to have irregularly and unlawfully appointed his niece as a Clerical Officer at the County Assembly, without the approval of the County Assembly Service Board or following the laid down recruitment procedures.

The court was told that the employment was made eight years ago when Mr Kombo was serving as the Speaker of the Kisii Assembly.

After employment, the court was told that the female employee started work as Mr Kombo’s Personal Assistant (PA) on permanent and pensionable terms contrary to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Regulations.

The anti-corruption body argued that by accepting the irregular employment, Mr Kombo abused his office by conferring a benefit to the questionable worker.

Omwoyo had pleaded guilty on Monday but Kombo's lawyers Wilkins Ochoki and George Morara made an application to have their client’s plea deferred to next week.

The two advocates later convinced the Court to release the senior on a free bond, owing to his age, promising compliance and attendance to Court proceedings.  

“Our client had a heart surgery just the other day. He has diabetes, high blood pressure and his life will be at risk if he continues to be in custody. He is also not a flight risk and therefore we are requesting that you release him on free bond,” Mr Ochoki pleaded.

The Magistrate however released Mr Kombo on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or a bond of Sh100,000.