Kisii County Assembly Clerk Dismissed Following Allegations of Misconduct.

By Orenge Wycliff

The now dismissed Clerk of the county assembly of kisii Mr. James Omariba Nyaoga. photo| Curtesy

Kisii County Assembly Clerk Dismissed Following Allegations of Misconduct

Kisii, Kenya – In a significant turn of events, the Kisii County Assembly has dismissed Mr. James Omariba Nyaoga, the County Assembly Clerk, following a series of allegations ranging from misappropriation of funds to abuse of office. The decision, which was reached during a special sitting held by the County Assembly on Thursday, has stirred considerable debate among the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), with some supporting the motion for his removal and others expressing concerns over the implications for his career and livelihood.

The process leading to Mr. Nyaoga’s dismissal began when he was sent on compulsory leave, alongside the County Finance Officer, after serious accusations were leveled against him. These accusations included the misappropriation of county assembly funds, gross misconduct, abuse of office, and the illegal interdiction of employees, among other charges. The gravity of these allegations prompted the assembly to take swift action, culminating in a motion seeking his removal from office.

Boochi/Tendere Ward MCA James Mogoa debating on the removal from office of the county assembly clerk Mr. James Nyaoga. He is tabled the motion in the house.Photo | Orenge Wycliff

Last week, the County Assembly Public Service Vice Chair and MCA for Boochi/Tendere Ward, Hon. James Ondari Mogoa, tabled the motion that sought Mr. Nyaoga’s ouster. The motion led to the formation of a special committee chaired by Bassi Bogetaorio MCA, Hon. Ibrahim Machuki, tasked with investigating the matter thoroughly and presenting a report on their findings.

After an exhaustive investigation, the special committee presented its report, which found Mr. Nyaoga guilty on all counts. The committee’s recommendations were clear: Mr. Nyaoga should be permanently removed from his position as County Assembly Clerk.

Bassi Bogetaorio MCA Hon. Ibrahim Machuki reading the report of the findings from the select committee over Nyaoga’s accusations. The commitee recommeded that Nyaoga should go home permanently. Photo | Orenge Wycliff

The report’s findings were presented during Tuesday’s special sitting, which was chaired by the County Assembly Speaker, Dr. Philip Nyanumba. The debate that followed was intense, with MCAs passionately discussing the merits and potential consequences of the motion.

The Minority side, led by the Leader of Minority, Hon. Dennis Ombachi, voiced strong opposition to the motion. Hon. Ombachi argued that removing Mr. Nyaoga from office would not only damage his career but also impact his livelihood. He suggested that the allegations might have been politically motivated, stating, “Mr. Nyaoga has been removed from office, but that doesn’t end here. He still has other avenues to seek justice and fairness. I see this fight against Mr. Nyaoga as politically motivated.”

Despite the concerns raised by Hon. Ombachi and a handful of other MCAs, the motion garnered overwhelming support from the majority of the assembly members. The matter was eventually put to a vote, which was conducted through a secret ballot. Out of the 70 MCAs present, 55 voted in favor of the motion to remove Mr. Nyaoga, while 13 voted against it, and two votes were spoilt.

MCAs of the Minority side, listening to the proceedings from the debate on Nyaoga’s ouster. Photo | Orenge Wycliff

After the votes were tallied, Speaker Dr. Philip Nyanumba announced the results, declaring that Mr. Nyaoga would cease to hold office as the Kisii County Assembly Clerk with immediate effect. The assembly members then adjourned and left the chambers.

Speaking to the media following the dismissal, Hon. Dennis Ombachi reiterated his belief that the process was driven by political motives. He emphasized that the focus should now shift back to service delivery, rather than turning the county assembly into a house of impeachment.

“It is now time to focus on service delivery and not turn the August House into a house of impeachment,” Hon. Ombachi stated.

Hon. Dennis Ombachi Speaking to the Media after the ouster of Mr Nyaoga. He opposed the Motion. Photo | Orenge Wycliff

The dismissal of Mr. Nyaoga marks the fourth impeachment conducted by the Kisii County Assembly. The first was the successful impeachment of the County Public Service Board, followed by the removal of Deputy Governor Dr. Robert Onsare Monda. The third impeachment attempt was the unsuccessful bid to remove the County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Administration, Dr. Ndemo Alfred.

The decision to dismiss Mr. Nyaoga has sparked discussions on the broader implications for governance and accountability within the Kisii County Assembly. While some view the action as a necessary step toward ensuring integrity and accountability, others see it as a potentially damaging precedent that could be influenced by political interests.

As the dust settles on this latest development, all eyes will be on Mr. Nyaoga’s next steps, as he considers his options for seeking justice and addressing the allegations against him. The Kisii County Assembly, meanwhile, will need to navigate the aftermath of this decision, ensuring that its focus remains on effective governance and service delivery for the people of Kisii County.