Deputy governor blocked from attending cabinet meeting

Siaya, Saturday, April 29, 2023 

K.N.A By Philip Onyango

The supremacy battles pitting Siaya governor James Orengo and his deputy over the management of the devolved unit took a new twist when the latter accused his boss of blocking him from attending a Cabinet meeting.

William Oduol, the Deputy Governor, said a team of mean looking security men and goons manning the entrance to the governor’s boardroom told him in no uncertain terms that they were under instructions not to allow him into the meeting held on Thursday this week.

Addressing a press conference in Siaya town, an angry Oduol said had received an invitation for the meeting from the County Secretary Joseph Ogutu two days earlier and had prepared adequately for the meeting.

“I had been formally invited by the County Secretary as is always the practice two days ago,” he said, adding that he arrived at the governor’s office at 8.00AM only to be told that his boss, Orengo, was busy receiving briefs from the County Executive Committee members.

He said that he left for his office but left a word with the secretary that he be notified the moment the Cabinet meeting begins.

The Deputy Governor said that he was notified at around 2 PM that the Cabinet meeting was on and as he made his way to the boardroom, the security men stopped him, saying that he was not required at the meeting.

“I quietly returned to my office as I did not want to cause commotion,” he said and accused Orengo of being behind the move.

Oduol said it was his constitutional right to attend the Cabinet meeting, adding that he would not take the matter lying down.

“Attending the Cabinet meeting or not is not the prerogative of the governor. That is my constitutional right,” he said, adding that what happened on Thursday was unfortunate.

He said that the incident was as a result of his crusade against corruption within the county government, which has seen him being summoned by the Siaya County Assembly to substantiate his claims.

Oduol said that no amount of intimidation would stop him from pushing for accountability and openness in the county government, adding that he had already furnished the Assembly with documents to prove his claims of graft.

 Two weeks ago, Oduol appeared before the Siaya County Assembly for grilling over his allegations but was sent back by the Speaker, George Okode as he had not furnished the house with documentary proof of the allegations.

Okode told him to ensure that he filed the documents with the clerk for scrutiny after which he would be summoned to shed more light.

The Deputy Governor and his boss Orengo were erstwhile buddies during the campaigns and immediately after assuming office before Oduol launched an attack on Orengo for allegedly condoning corruption.

Efforts to get comment from Orengo did not bear fruit as a message sent to his Director of Communication, Benjamin Agina was not responded to.

Courtesy K.N.A