The rift between the governor and the county assembly seemed to widen as the speaker insisted that the house and its committees would not have any official dealings with acting chief officers.
A day after the assembly rejected Governor Cornel Rasanga’s supplementary budget, Speaker George Okode said the chief officers were appointed without competitive sourcing, nomination and approval by the MCAs and were, therefore, not recognised in law.
Speaking during the assembly proceedings in Siaya town, the speaker said the assembly would only deal with departments whose communications were signed by county executive committee members (CECs).
He told the county government to properly advertise the vacant positions of chief officers.
“My attention has been drawn to the communications sent to this house by people masquerading as chief officers for various departments, yet these individuals have never been vetted to undertake these duties. They are not known to us,” said the speaker.
Mr Okode told Mr Rasanga (pictured) to follow the law in appointing the chief officers as stipulated in the County Governments Act.
He said the law did not allow unqualified persons to hold public office in an acting capacity unless they satisfied the prescribed qualifications.
“The law clearly states that the governor will nominate competent persons, recommended by the public service board and later with the approval of MCAs, he appoints them for the position of chief officers,” argued Okode.
The speaker noted that although the law allowed the governor to nominate a person for the position of chief officer, MCAs must vet and approve them.
West Asembo ward MCA Ambrose Akuno had sponsored a motion on the appointment of the chief officers, claiming they had not been vetted or approved to undertake official duties for the county.
Separately, the county assembly has asked for speedy investigations into threats against Central Alego MCA Leonard Oriaro.
Last week, Mr Oriaro recorded statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on claims that his life was in danger.
He accused the governor of threatening him through a phone call, but Rasanga denied the claims.
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