One million shilling chair for Siaya deputy Governor

Siaya Thursday June 8, 2023

KNA by Philip Onyango

Siaya deputy governor, William Oduol’s office chair cost the tax payer a whooping one million shillings, an ad hoc committee appointed by the county assembly to investigate grounds for his impeachment has heard.

According to documents tabled before the house by the executive, the executive orthopaedic desk chair was procured at a cost of Sh1,120,000 immediately after the DG assumed office and summoned the county chief officers demanding renovations and replacement of furniture in his office.

The chair, together with other furniture worth Sh11,366,213.60 were supplied by M/s Udonga General Merchants, according to an invoice dated December16, 2022.

Among the items supplied by the company are a presidential mahogany timber finished in two pack at Sh336,700; Bookshelf Cabinet at Sh567,700; Five pieces of curved coffee tables with stools costing Sh756,700, an Executive Orthopedic desk chair back and a seat fully spring at Sh238,840 and an Executive visitors chair back and seat full spring worth Sh238,840.

Others are Office mahogany in and out tray at Sh178,200; executive custom made round tables finished in two packs Sh254,800; 12 executive high back orthopedic desk chair in leather (black colour) Sh2, 844,000; seven-seat custom made executive curved sofa set Sh910,000;Priya executive orthopedic desk chair and seat fully spring Sh1,120,000; six meters conference table Sh1, 051,200; Priya executive visitors chair back and seat fully spring Sh168,000; grooved coffee table Sh211,400;executive custom made desk and fully spring Sh333,000 with all the furniture totaling to Sh11,366,213.

This was part of Sh18 million that was spent to renovate and furnish the deputy governor’s office.

Chief Officer for governance, Joseph Omondi told the ad hoc committee, chaired by the Yimbo East member of the county assembly, Francis Otiato that Oduol had summoned him immediately after taking office and directed that the office be renovated and furniture replaced.

“We went round and noted that indeed some areas needed to be worked on and some furniture replaced,” he said adding that the DG made a follow up and directed that the works be done within a week.

In their evidence, several senior county government officials, among them acting chief officer, Finance, Jack Odinga and the director of procurement, Martin Okwata lamented that the deputy governor bullied them in an attempt to have them favour certain suppliers.

“I have been bullied, threatened and humiliated,” Odinga told the committee adding that the DG has been implicating him in virtually every alleged misappropriation of funds.

The deputy governor who was represented by a team of three lawyers, led by Paul Nyamodi however denied accusations of misuse of office and intimidating the finance and procurement staff. 

He said that he had played no role in the procurement adding that the only time he was interacting with the officers was when he was performing delegated tasks given by his boss, James Orengo to superintend over the finance and planning docket.

Oduol told the committee that indeed he had the orthopaedic chair in his office but said that its value was not Sh1,120,000 as indicated in the invoice.

“That is a typographic error. Sh1,120,000 is the cost of three chairs,” he said.

The deputy governor has been at logger heads with his boss, Mr Orengo, over alleged mismanagement and corruption.

An impeachment motion was tabled before the assembly by East Asembo MCA, Gordon Onguru prompting the formation of the committee to look into the allegations tabled against him.

The committee is set to report back to the house on Thursday, June 8,2023 where the members are expected to pass a motion of impeachment or reject it.

Courtesy ; K. N. A