Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol Impeached by MCAs

Besieged Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol has been ousted from his position. 

On Thursday, all 42 members of the Siaya County Assembly cast their votes for his removal. Speaker George Okode arranged for a roll call to take place before carrying out the vote. The decision was reached after a 14-member special committee concluded that Oduol had violated the Constitution and other laws and abused his office power.

"After according the deputy governor an opportunity to be heard, the County Assembly resolves to impeach William Odhiambo Oduol on grounds of gross violation of the constitution and other laws, misuse of public resources and gross misconduct," Assembly Speaker William Oduol pronounced. 

The Assembly found Oduol guilty of several offences, including manipulating the procurement process through bid-rigging, forcing staff to renovate his office beyond the approved budget, and using public funds for a private (CPAK) meeting in Mombasa in November 2022. They held him accountable for intimidating the Acting Finance and Economic Planning head Jack Odinga and the director of supply chain management Martin Okwatta, as well as supplying false information to the public.

Okode declared that he would communicate the ruling on Oduol's impeachment to the Senate speaker Amazon Kingi within two days. He said Oduol would be informed of the assembly's final decision. The special committee, chaired by Francis Otiato, was formed to investigate the allegations presented in the motion moved by East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru. 

The committee's report was then handed over to the Speaker George Okode-led Assembly, which concluded that the proposed grounds for removal were proven to be true. On June 6, 2023, Oduol was given the chance to defend himself and fight to clear his name. Oduol brought along his legal team of Paul Nyamodi, Aluoch Oduol and Patrick Baraza to the proceedings. 

By approving his dismissal, the assembly concurred with all the testimonies presented against him. These witnesses comprised Okwatta, administration chief officer Joseph Omondi Odinga, CECM Finance and Economic Planning Benedict Omollo, CECM of Education Edgar Otumba, director of public participation Jared Abayo and CECM of Governance Agunda Ochanda.