Nominees for Siaya county posts rejected again

By Lawrence Aluru

Siaya, Kenya: Siaya County Assembly has rejected five of 11 nominees to the public service board and executive committee.

All 30 assembly members unanimously voted to reject the nominees, saying they did not meet the integrity threshold and some did not submit clearance certificates.

The rejected nominees are former Gem MP Joe Donde (chairman), Ismael Onyango (member), Rosemary Okumu (member), Stephen K’opot (Public Administration and Governance), and Vitalis Olunga (Tourism and Wildlife).

Donde, who had initially appeared for vetting without academic papers, later brought them but lacked accreditation for his Master’s degree from Norwich University in the UK.

Onyango was rejected because he did not present his degree as he is still a student and is to graduate in December this year.

K’opot, a lawyer, had lost his degree certificate but presented a letter from the university he attended stating they would issue him with a new one. K’opot, Okumu and Olunga were also rejected for not submitting clearance certificates from Kenya Revenue Authority and Credit Reference Bureau.

Last month, the assembly rejected eight names from a list of 14 that were nominated for approval. Among them were Donde, Olunga and Onyango.

Those approved are Charles Rading (secretary), Nicholas Ochogo (member), and Dr Philigona Ooko (Agriculture and Livestock).