Will Ottichilo survive impeachment motion ? – Weekly Citizen

Vihiga governor Wilber Ottichilo is having sleepless nights as members of the county assembly plan to impeach him. Already his deputy governor Patrick Saisi is waiting in the wings.

So desperate is Ottichillo to an extent, last week he reached ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi to prevail upon MCAs allied to his party to stop the impeachment move. A source close to Mudavadi claims, on Friday last week, he flew to Kisumu and drove to the county to console with the family of women rep Beatrice Adagala. Mudavadi’s efforts to summon the MCAs to save Ottichilo did not succeed.

Another desperate move was Ottichilo’s decision to transfer Noah Okaya the chief of staff to his Nairobi liaison office a move that has been dismissed by MCAs who want him sacked since he will be back in the county once the heat is over. They say that only sacking Okaya will appease them and not just moving him because that to them is not enough punishment.

Weekly Citizen has information, last week Saisi held secret talks with MCAs from his Tiriki side and prevailed upon them to back the impeachment that will see him take over and benefit the people of Hamisi constituency. In fact among the Tirikis, Ottichillo impeachment is a blessing in disguise as it will shift governor powers to the region. Voters from the constituency have warned MCAs from the area who will oppose the impeachment that they will be treated as sellouts.

Weekly Citizen has information that Luanda MP Chris Omulele is prevailing upon MCAs allied to him to vote for Ottichilo impeachment. Omulele’s concern being, Ottichillo has been sponsoring Okaya to undermine him. Okaya is going for Luanda parliamentary seat using Ottichilo’s name.

MCAs in Vihiga and Sabatia constituencies have also ganged against Ottichilo. Sources say the impeachment motion will go through on two grounds. One, the governor is unpopular with voters and any MCA who will vote against the motion will be a marked face. Two, they will impeach him and hope the senate to save him as it happened with Taita Taveta governor Granton Samboja. After the senate saved Samboja, the governor discovered the power of MCAs and has been cooperative in enjoining them in daily running of county matters.

Vihiga MCAs

Vihiga MCAs want Ottichillo to sack arrogant CECs if the senate will save him after the impeachment. But if he does not survive at the senate level, they want Saisi, who will take over like it happened in Kiambu where former governor Ferdinand Waititu was replaced by his deputy Ndindi Nyoro, to sack those CECs allied to Ottichillo using the assembly.

That Ottichillo is panicking is no secret. Last week, he tried to derail the motion by planning to move to court at the advice of his kitchen cabinet. A source revealed, he is likely to push the legal aspect after MCAs refused to listen to him. Already, at least 23 out of 38 MCAs have appended their signatures t the document that will set the stage for his impeachment.

One MCA the governor has openly attacked is Emabungo MCA Moses Opole who is also the majority leader. He was elected on ANC ticket and the embattled governor claims, Opole alias mwanapole is going round in funerals undermining him.

Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi and Francis Omonde who are emerging as major factors in the governorship race 2022 are accused by Ottichilo camp of backing the impeachment scheme. Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba and his Vihiga counterpart Ernest Kivai are neutral. Hamisi MP Charles Gimose due to Saisi factor is sympathetic to the motion. Among the MCAs who have signed are Vincent Atsiaya, Butiya Nickson, Vera Kaisha, Moses Opole, Alice Ahuga, Henry Asava, Collins Beru, Moses Opole, Wycliffe Masani, Henry Asava, Francis Ukiru, Joyce Mairu, Victor Jaica, Douglas Beru, Collins Ayuga, Gladys Analo, Violet Bagada, Stanley Kasieja, Dominic Baraka, Elizabeth Muhoja, Zacharia Murefu, Erick Odey, Elisha Amara, Henry Asava, Joyce Mayodi, Ernest Kihana, Calystus Ajode and Stephen Mulagasi.

had expired and reshuffled some whose terms had not expired.

The chief officers whose contracts had not elapsed but have been transferred, include Pauline Lokuruka who was moved to education, sports and social protection docket, from tourism, culture and natural resources.

Rosemary Nchinyei was also transferred to be the chief officer for tourism, culture and natural resources from the trade, gender and youth affairs docket.

Abdullahi Yusuf has been moved to livestock, fisheries and veterinary services docket from the economic planning department.

Joshua Lemuya has been retained as chief officer for lands, energy, housing and urban areas management, while Robert Abok will also remain at health services and sanitation.

At the same time, Nanok reappointed other chief officers with new assignments among them, Gladys Arika who will serve as the chief officer public service and remain acting as the chief officer for administration and disaster management.

Joseph Ekalale remains the chief officer, office of the governor, while Jeremiah Apalia moved from finance to economic planning.