Former Homa Bay county Assembly Clerk Hannington Ochieng was irregularly paid a full salary despite having resigned from his job as the Clerk, according to the Auditor General report for the period 2020/2021.
A review of his resignation letter dated 04th June 2021 indicated that he was to surrender his salary for May 2021 as a payment in lieu of notice, for his late submission of the resignation letter. However, an examination of the payroll showed that an amount of Ksh. 308,572 being his net salary for May was paid to his account. No explanation has so far been provided for this anomaly. Consequently, the County Assembly lost money due to irregular payment.
The former House Speaker Elizabeth Ayoo together with the then-acting assembly Clerk Faith Adhiambo Apuko has been accused of sleeping on their job. Apuko was later confirmed as the substantive Clerk while Ayoo was impeached by the County assembly.
Mr Ochieng resigned from his job citing frustrations and interference in his mandate, barely two months after taking over office. In a letter to county assembly speaker Elizabeth Ayoo who chairs the county assembly service board, Ochieng said he could not continue with his work in an increasingly volatile environment.
“The volatile environment can’t allow me discharge my duties effectively. My conscience is clear and that under the prevailing circumstances, it is untenable to continue performing my duties uncompromisingly,” Ochieng said in the letter dated June 4th 2021. He took office in April, replacing Daniel Kaudo who was ousted by MCAs for alleged involvement in internal wrangles.
But less than two months into office, the new clerk said he found it difficult to discharge his mandate. “Please let it be known that I am ready to offer any assistance including May salary. I wish you all the employees and various stakeholders of Homa Bay county assembly the very best going forward.”
