Busia County secretary, executive, chief officer survive after MCAs amend report

Members of county assembly have adopted an ad hoc committee report with amendments to save top officials from losing their positions. 

The committee to investigate why development projects had stuck, found three officials culpable and recommended for their dismissal. 

On the chopping board were County Secretary Nicodemus Mulaku, accused of abuse of office and County Executive for Finance Phaustine Barasa together with her Chief Officer Priscah Omoit.

Although the ward reps held that the report would help address the mess in the county, they agreed that dismissing Mulaku, Phaustine and Priscah would not offer a solution to project implementation mess. 

They backed the report, but unanimously noted that there was need for some amendments to give the three more time to deliver their mandates.  

The committee that was chaired by Bukhayo North/Walatsi member Gardy Jakaa said they discovered from the submissions of the three that there was a big problem in the procurement department. 

Procurement is one of the six directorates under the department of Finance, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Economic Planning. 

Earlier Mr Jakaa had submitted during the heated debate that if the report was adopted with recommendations in totality, people of Busia would have got much needed service from governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s administration.

“We are in serious mess as a county, but the committee has prescribed cure if recommendations are adopted and implemented to the latter,” said Jakaa.

Chakol South MCA Masikini Okodoi hailed the ad hoc committee report, but warned against sacking top officials in the department of Finance even the County Secretary.

“It is good that we give the officers more time instead of turning the assembly to a dismissing organ,” said Okodoi. 

“It is like a teacher chasing student from classroom for failing examinations rather than helping the learner to pass the exams.”

His sentiment was backed by Mwajuma Toloi of Nambale Township who said it was unfair to send anybody home. 

“The county is bigger than an individual or office and there will be crisis even if we said they be dismissed as the committee has suggested but let us forgive them,” said Toloi.