County clerk suspended over delayed pay, funds misuse

Assembly clerk Tom Opere has been suspended by the County Assembly Service Board for delaying employees’ salaries.

Mr Opere has been accused of failing to process the assembly employees’ salaries for two months without an explanation.

Hevron Maheri, the Muhuru ward MCA, said the employees presented their grievances to the assembly which led to the board taking action.

Bank accounts

“We also suspended him for mismanaging mortgage funds and non-remittance of statutory deductions to various entities,” Mr Maheri said.

Yesterday, The Standard established that Opere has also been barred from operating all the assembly bank accounts by a directive that has been signed by Speaker Boaz Okoth.

Also another notice signed by Okoth instructs Diamond Bank and other banks not to transact with Opere.

“Kindly note that Mr Opere ceases to be a signatory of all the assembly’s bank accounts,” reads Okoth’s notice.

Emmanuel Abala, the deputy clerk has been appointed a signatory to the accounts.

Other signatories are Evans Ogutu, the senior finance officer and Daniel Ojiji, an officer in the finance department.

Mr Okoth said an investigation will be carried out before Opere is allowed to return to office.

“An audit is going on but the clerk remains suspended. He should respect the verdict made by the assembly,” said Okoth.

Opere said he was innocent of all the charges against him. “I have been suspended but I will defend myself if given a chance by the service board,” Opere said.