Governor Ken Lusaka sends four chief officers on compulsory leave over unwarranted expenditure
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has on Monday, October 3 ordered the suspension of four chief officials for violating his first executive order and participating in unauthorized expenditure.
Lusaka acccused them of high staff emoluments, high pending bills, unclear gratuity, pension, and unreconciled payment for scholarships despite the executive order forbidding them.
“In the Executive Order that I issued on the day I took over, I directed that no expenditure was to be made unless it was mandatory, budgeting and planning programs sanctioned by myself,’ Ken Lusaka said.
Lusaka said this was done to enable for a proper audit by three task forces on human resources, pending bills, and the ongoing county scholarships program.
The affected officers include; Patrick Wandili (Urban Planning) who was also acting in Health, Maurice Marango (Energy) who was also acting in Roads and Public works, Rose Murunga (Education and Vocational training) and Abidan Kapchanga (Industrialization) who was also acting in Public Service and Management docket.
While on leave, Lusaka announced that Isaac Aruput will serve as Acting Chief Officer Health, Moses Sichei will lead Roads and Public Works, and George Kombo will serve as Acting Chief Officer Education, Vocational Training, and Physical and Urban Planning.
Stephen Makhanu will serve as acting Chief Officer in charge of Public Service Management, while Denson Barasa will serve as acting Chief Officer of Energy and Industrialization.
“During their compulsory leave the officers will be required to avail themselves shed light on the unathorised expenditure whenever called upon by the investigation team without fail,” Lusaka said.