Kisumu County Assembly appoints first substantive clerk since 2013

Kisumu County Assembly has appointed the first substantive clerk since the inception of devolution.

Yesterday's appointment of career civil servant Owen Ojuok by the County Assembly board is a major move for Speaker Elisha Oraro's administration to restore sanity in the assembly.

MCAs unanimously adopted the report by the board and threw their weight behind Ojuok, whom some described as a "performer with a wealth of knowledge in matters legislation and administration".

Oraro, who tabled the report before the House, told members that Ojuok defeated 10 other applicants who had expressed interest in the job.

"After taking into consideration a number of issues including experience, the board has settled on Owen Ojuok as the clerk of the County Assembly," said the speaker.

Since the inception of devolution in 2013, the assembly has never had a substantive clerk as past regimes changed clerks that were appointed on acting capacities amid controversies.

More than five different clerks have held the position with their stints rocked by a series of controversies. Only advocate Ojuok’s stint after the removal of former Speaker Onyango Oloo and former acting Cerk Linet Ochieng has been calm.

Moments after he was confirmed by the ward reps, Ojuok vowed to ensure that clean books of records are maintained at the assembly, as well as strict adherence to the law.

"During the short stint he has served in an acting capacity, he has shown that he is impartial. We want a performer and we are happy with him," said Paul Okiri, MCA for West Kisumu.

Former speakers Anne Adul and Oloo’s tenures were marred with chaos. During Adul’s tenure, two clerks were appointed in acting capacities, all battling to serve the House. At one time in 2017, the two ran parallel offices.