Otichillo foe now council of governors’ chief – Weekly Citizen

Embattled Vihiga county secretary Francis Ominde has been appointed as the chief executive officer of the council of governors sending shockwaves to Governor Wilber Ottichilo who engineered his interdiction after a disagreement several months ago.

Ominde who has had a long battle with Ottichilo after their fallout, has been given a five-year contract at the CoG, the governors umbrella body.

Oparanya

A copy of the employment letter signed by CoG chairman and Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya reads in part: “You are hereby employed as the chief executive officer of the council of governors after undergoing a vigorous recruitment process. The employment takes effect immediately.”

Ominde takes over from Jackyne Omugeni who has quit for greener pastures. Omugeni is the pioneer CEO of the organisation that is responsible for running and coordinating of counties and governors’ affairs.

Ominde will be sitting at the CoG headquarters at Delta House in Westlands in Nairobi.

Sources added that Ominde will soon quit as the Vihiga CS, ending the long battle with Ottichilo and governor’s pointman Noah Okaya who many refer to as “defacto governor” because of his immense powers in the county.

But the new development has scared Ottichilo who made frantic efforts to stop Ominde’s appointment at the CoG.

We have learnt that upon realising that the CoG was about to appoint Ominde, the governor started lobbying to have the decision changed and the job given to another officer because he feared that Ominde will use the position to “finish him”.

“Ottichilo approached Oparanya to have the appointment changed but the chairman rejected saying that Ominde was the best candidate to take over from Omugeni because of his vast experience in the civil service,” said the source.

It is said that Ottichilo fears that Ominde will be using his influence to sabotage him and eventually scuttle his bid to defend the gubernatorial seat in the 2022 general elections.

Ominde can also use the position to expose Ottichilo county government’s corrupt deals and mobilise relevant authorities to teach him a lesson.

Otichillo

Those close to Ominde say that already he is giving Ottichilo sleepless nights with unending battles while out of his government.

“If Ominde is causing the governor serious problems and he is out of employment, then it will be worse now that he has a position that gives him powers to deal with him,” said Ominde ally.

Contacted for comment, Ominde confirmed that he has landed the job but denied fears that he will use the position to bring Ottichilo down.

“Tayari Ottichilo amekwisha…how do you fight a person who is helpless? It’s like killing a dead lion. He has nothing left to hang on,” said Ominde.

He thanked the CoG for the confidence they showed in him adding that he was ready to serve the Council with commitment.