February 12, 2020, marked a significant day for Homa Bay County Public Service Board as it flexed its muscles against a long-standing cartel that has operated for seven years.
Chief Executive Officer Collins Agutu wrote to Finance and Economic Planning Chief Officer Noah Otieno, cautioning him against his lust for imaginary powers not provided for in the law. Agutu emphasized that the county public service board is an independent body, not a department of the county government.
Agutu's letter pulled the rug from under the cartel's chief, County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe, stating that his powers are limited to the 10 departments of the county government. Quoting Section 57 of the County Government Act, Agutu said, 'A county chief officer has no powers to deploy a public officer across county departments. A county secretary too has no powers to deploy a staff of the county public service board.'
County Governor Cyprian Awiti, who has been a lame duck since Ogwe took over two months after the 2013 elections, has been expressing lamentations but has no authority to intervene. Ogwe's term in office is over, but Awiti cannot act and is only quick to complain to his confidants.
Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata has been reduced to a helpless complainant, lest he loses favor with the dreaded cartels. Orata was irked by the move by Finance Chief Officer Noah Otieno but could only complain quietly.
The transfer letters of accountants in different ministries were crafted by Otieno, who is Ogwe's nephew and has been at the helm of the finance docket for six years. During his tenure, massive rip-offs of billions of development funds have occurred, reflected in the properties, shares, vehicles, and money in the bank accounts and safes of the cartel members.
Isaiah Ogwe operates more than 10 bank accounts in Homa Bay. In a clear scheme to sustain and protect their cartel deals, the favorites who have not been transferred include Crescensia Polo, acting chief officer of transport and infrastructure, and her daughter-in-law Linet, who acts as the chief accountant.
Other untouchables include Zedekia Mwaga, John Kichana, Henry Owidi, and Horace Otieno, who is a brother of Dan Lieta, the head of accounts. Owidi is a nephew of Finance and Economic Planning Minister Nicholas Koriko.
The alleged mastermind behind the cartel, Daniel Owuor, has all the accountants under his control. He is alleged to have recently paid Sh50 million to some crooked officers from the Director of Criminal Investigations and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to prevent his arrest.
