COUNTY SECRETARY: IS THE SEAT JINXED OR JUST TOO SWEET TO LEAVE?

AT the advent of devolution in 2016, everything looked new. People were getting used to counties as governments headed by Governors. County bosses were mini-gods, in Kakamega for instance, coming in from a Ministerial position, Whycliffe Oparanya was elected as a first Governor and as he put together his cabinet the position of County Secretary emerged as powerful.

Juggling between political competing interests and systematic blatant looting, Oparanya decided to divide and rule as he neglected Butere his home.

In 2013, Jeremiah Were was picked as the Kakamega County Secretary being a pioneer in the otherwise office that was seeing 'transition' between county and National Governments. 

Soft spoken and naive, Mr. Were had to learn the ropes of how to deal with Ministers at the county despite pressure from the Governor himself at the time devolution was taking root as a system of governance. 

Mr. Were lasted from 2013 to 2015 when he was suddenly released from the position and replaced by the late Beatrice Sabana Makanga who also lasted a year before exiting. 

Former Kakamega County Secretary Dr Boniface Okoth(left) handing over his office to Lawrence Omuhaka(right) and witnessed by Deputy Governor Ayub Savula. Photo courtesy GPU

Mrs. Sabana, powerful, towering and a stickler to the rule of law took over from July 2015 when Governor Oparanya announced little-publicized changes in his administration at a rainy afternoon, catching most of his CECMs unnawares. 

Mrs Sabana who had lasted to 2018 March, was replaced by Jacinta Oluoch an equally powerful individual in the Administration whose word was law. 

However, Jacinta Oluoch, despite coming in with gusto and alot of canvassing and horse-trading, had her share of drama at the tenure of office. 

In June 2020, she was arrested by DCI detectives from the County Headquarters on claims that she had threatened the lives of fellow ministers.

Mrs. Beatrice Sabana who was the second County Secretary. The seat was too powerful. 

Mrs Aluoch was detained in custody for threatening, Beatrice Sabana, Joshua Kutekha, Peter Lukoye Chief Officer Public Administration and Michael Mukolwe transport Officer. 

Jacinta was accused by the EACC of "facilitating the payment of allowances and other benefits to her personal driver and two armed body guards and putting them on the County payroll unprocedurally. 

She was unceremoniously removed from office after being released from police custody on a Ksh 100,000 police bond. The case is still active. 

The year 2021 saw one Ambassador Lucas Ochami take over from the disgruntled Oluoch as Secretary in the heat of the elections that included the Matungu By-election  that shamed Governor Oparanya after his ODM candidate David Were lost to ANC's newbie-Peter Oscar Nabulindo even after the county spent a fortune on the polls. 

Amb Ochami oversaw the tail-end of Oparanya's administration and fell out automatically after the 2022 general elections that saw Governor Fernandes Barasa elected as the second Governor of Kakamega County ending Oparanya's 10 years stint. 

After being sworn in, Governor Fernandes Barasa settled for Dr. Boniface Okoth as the County secretary, a teacher who had been at the helm when exams of all students were canceled by KNEC at Chebuyusi secondary school over alleged malpractice. 

Dr. Okoth had apparently played a big role in grassroot mobilization of voters and the Governor did not see the need to follow the requirements of the law in hiring a county secretary. 

Feared and respected in equal measure, Dr. Okoth strode the corridors of Kakamega County like a tsunami.

According to insiders, Okoth's word was final and most CECMs, dreaded crossing his path in the line of duty that lasted almost one year. 

Dr. Okoth was said to have openly bragged how the Barasa Administration would not operate without him as Secretary, he claimed to be behind the drafting of the cabinet, hiring top officials and other major changes that the Governor made after swearing in. 

From October 2022 to August 2023, Dr Okoth was talk of town from ministers to sweepers, he was seen as a Barasa's right-hand man as he gave orders left right and center not knowing that time was running out. 

He personally oversaw the Lusheya meeting that saw Governor Barasa Extinguish rebellion that had started growing by Mumias East MP Peter Salasya after the two differed on matters Mumias Sugar. 

Observers say his goose appeared cooked during the first day of the Sugar conference whedespite millions being used for mobilization, seats remained empty with no meaningful attendance only a few students graced day one. 

Fast forward, When Governor Fernandes Barasa, on the eve of his US visit announced a sudden reorganization of his cabinet, Dr. Okoth is said to have been shaken to the core after he was moved to head the education Ministry and replaced by Lawrence Omuhaka. 

Dr. Okoth, according to insiders immediately convened a meeting of confidants at K hotel in Kakamega and tabled statutes of the law on how he ought to have been replaced. 

The meeting, according to those in attendance was supposed to have Dr.. Okoth reject the changes on the ground that his replacement was not legally hired as enshrined in the law governing counties. 

As time flew by, all those affected by the mini reschuffle took office leaving Dr. Okoth pending and not having handed over to his successor Lawrence Omuhaka. 

According to a source, 12 hours before Okoth handed over, there was a night fight at his office as locks to his office doors were forcefully changed and his official car was grounded at the county parking yard after all it's tyres were flattened. 

The source said at one time, Okoth, accompanied by two goons ploughed into three other hired goons in Kakamega town as he walked into his office, a fight ensued between his 'security' and others believed to be allied to Business Man Toto leading to injuries. 

Okoth realized he was loosing the battle. The presence of Deputy Governor Ayub Savula was a show of command and a direct order from Governor Barasa (then on tour abroad), who said his reorganization will not be changed and that he expected immediate changes. 

Fearing dire consequences from the Governor, Dr. Okoth's plan to reject his new position died down, he rushed to take over and hand over and had, with cheek-in-tongue, to issue a public statement accepting the new portfolio. 

Door locks to the County Secretary's office that were changed to force DR. Okoth to hand over after a stand off. 

Lawrence Omuhaka' s taking over the office came as a relief and there is full of optimism that the soft-spoken individual from Butere will carry with him the decorum of the County Secretary. 

All eyes now are settled on Mr. Omuhaka, who also worked in the Oparanya administration as CECM, and how he intends to carry on his responsibilities as in charge of the County Secretary docket. 

Sections of the law that Dr. Okoth had decided to stick to to challenge his removal untill he changed his kind after a lawyer adviced him that he had not been hired using the same law and could not use it hi his defense. 

Having been hired without following the provisions of the law that requires a selection panel with lawyers accountants and other proffessionals, Mr. Omuhaka, who has previously demonstrated hard work is expected to juggle between his political future (he is rumored to be eyeing the Butere Parliamentary seat in 2027)  and helping Governor Barasa on delivering on his agenda to the people of Kakamega. 

ENDS.