Drama as Oparanya denotes finance boss – Weekly Citizen

A mini reshuffle of chief officers by Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya last week has sent tongues wagging as claims of Sh2 million cash loss emerged. It is claimed the changes in his cabinet were driven by allegations that several top officers had colluded to withdraw and spend cash meant to fight Covid-19. In a letter dated April 21 2020, Governor Oparanya moved several chief officers. In acting capacity as chief officer finance, the governor appointed James Ochami to replace Laurence Omwaka who returned to his office as in charge HR. In public service and administration, Dominic Muteshi took over a docket that had been vacant for some time. Jacob Imbogo who has been boss in finance will now head youths, sports and culture while sports chief officer Phitalis Masakhwe took over as chief officer service delivery. A source at the public service board told Weekly Citizen that after word leaked out that some money had been fiddled with at the finance office headed by Jacob Imbogo, several officers mentioned went into panicky mode.

Prof Philip Kutima

One officer Lawrence Omuhaka who, it is claimed, was at the centre of the scandal immediately admitted himself at Nala Hospital, a private facility in Kakamega for an unknown illness. It is claimed the payment of the cash was raised by Omuhaka and sanctioned by Imbogo. “Oparanya summoned Omuhaka to try and explain the issue of the monies but the guy has been dodging,” said our source. Weekly Citizen established that the head of service delivery had also last week written to Omuhaka enquiring about the missing cash and that by the time of going to press, he was yet to answer to the letter. Our source went on to reveal that Imbogo’s demotion could signify acceleration of his war with the deputy governor Philip Kutima in the fight for supremacy among the Kabras clan. “The loss of this money has seen the governor furious and that is why he placed a junior officer to act as chief officer finance and in the meantime to sideline the others and scatter them,” said an insider at the public service. Next week ,who is this man Imbogo. Word has it that Imbogo and Omuhaka having worked at the ailing Mumias Sugar Company and left controversially, could be in the eye of a storm or staring at drastic action once Governor Oparanya settles in office.Imbogo accuses Kutima of witchhunt and sorcery. The letter of reshuffle announcing changes amongst Governor Oparanya’s chief officers following a scandal in which Sh2 million from the Covid-19 fund was lost