Seven senior officials from the Nandi County government could be dismissed following recommendations from an ad hoc committee formed by the county’s Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The committee was tasked with investigating financial mismanagement, incomplete projects, inefficiencies, and the causes of a bloated wage bill in the county. It is chaired by Benjamin Kerich, the MCA for Kapsabet Town, with Sarah Mutwol, MCA for Kosirai, serving as his deputy.
The committee’s final report, which is expected to be presented in the county assembly, includes sweeping recommendations, such as the impeachment of county executives found guilty of neglecting their duties or engaging in corrupt practices.
The 254 has learned that the committee has recommended the removal of three County Executive Committee (CEC) members, as well as four chief officers within Governor Stephen Sang’s administration.
“We have finalized our report, and we will present it this week. There’s no need for further speculation—let’s just wait and see,” Kerich said on Sunday.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that some of the officials targeted in the report attempted to influence its outcome through bribery and intimidation.
Tensions are high, with rumors that some residents are planning to stage a protest at the county assembly to pressure MCAs into impeaching those named negatively in the report.
The committee conducted a thorough review of all county departments and the status of ongoing projects, focusing on cost overruns, errors in implementation, and discrepancies that impacted project outcomes. MCAs also visited key projects to assess their progress.
Over 50 top county officials, including executives and chief officers, were interrogated during the investigation to address allegations of corruption and failure to deliver essential projects. Among those questioned were Acting Chairman of the County Public Service Board, Elisheba Arusei, and County Secretary Francis Sang.
The interviews concluded two weeks ago, after which the committee members traveled to Mombasa to finalize their report.
This investigation is part of the ongoing implementation of a human resource audit that uncovered irregular hiring practices, resulting in the dismissal of over 1,800 workers. Governor Stephen Sang has insisted on fully implementing the audit’s recommendations, which revealed significant losses, including over Sh2 billion paid to illegally hired workers.
“The assembly has its role, and we will wait for the report,” Governor Sang said yesterday. “We are continuing with the implementation of the audit’s findings, and there is no turning back. Our focus is now on redirecting resources towards development.”
Following the suspension of several payroll officers, there are concerns that the governor may also dismiss additional CECs once the ad hoc committee’s report is officially presented.
