Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o (pictured) has sacked County Education Executive Obiero Ogone and sent several senior staff on compulsory leave.

Prof Nyong'o nominated former Kenya Secondary School Heads Association National chairman John Awiti as the new Education executive.

Mr Awiti will now have to wait for the County Assembly to vet him for the job and approve his nomination.

Nyong'o announced the changes in a press release yesterday, terming them normal administrative matters meant to improve performance and service delivery.

Sources however said the changes could be a result of handling of the county's Sh205 million bursary kitty since those affected are from the Education Department and the directorate of procurement services.

The sources said the governor was unhappy with the delay in disbursing the bursaries to the over 300 shortlisted beneficiaries.

Dr Ogone told The Standard on phone that he learnt of his sacking shortly after 11am while in the office.

"I was remaining with two guests when a chief officer came to me with a screenshot message doing rounds in WhatsApp groups that I had been sacked," he said.

"I saw the press statement signed by the governor and I knew my time was up. I excused myself and left in a huff."

Ogone said he was surprised to be sent home without any prior warning.

"It was a big surprise. I couldn't establish what went wrong. No one also informed me that this was coming," he said.

Governor Nyong'o also sent on compulsory leave Chief Officer for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Haggai Kadiri; Acting Chief Officer for Education, ICT and Capacity Development Rosemary Otieno; and Acting Director for Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities George Orude.

Others were Acting Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Emilly Ohore; Director for Early Childhood Education Margaret Apondi; Departmental Procurement Officer Samuel Jaoko; and an accountant Sylvanus Munala.

Nyong'o said the decision to send them on compulsory leave was informed by County Secretary Geoffrey Kigochi who serves as the governor's administration technical advisor.