Top staff at ex-PM’s office left, says Duale

Twenty-three senior officials, who served under former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, have left the Deputy President’s office since he took office last April.

The officers ran down their tenures and refused to renew them even after the DP, Mr William Ruto, offered new contracts, Parliament was told Tuesday.

According to the Leader of Majority Adan Duale, most of them went out to pursue personal interests after their contracts with the defunct office of the Prime Minister came to an end.

Mr Duale said in parliament that only three officers had been recruited by Mr Ruto to replace those who left. They are Marianne Kitany, chief of staff, Mr Reuben Maiyo, the private secretary and Mr David Mugonyi, secretary of communication.

“The terms of service of some officers in the former PM’s office expired as per the engagement with that office. When the Deputy President took office, he requested the Public Service Commission for an extension of their contracts. The PSC on June 5 extended their contracts to June 30, but they chose to leave,” Mr Duale said.

The officers had left before Mr Ruto took office on April 11, he said.

Chose to quit

The request for the extension was made by the former PS in the PM office Mohammed Isahakia. The officers who chose to quit include Caroli Omondi, who was Mr Odinga’s Private Secretary, Dennis Onyango (Deputy Communication Secretary) and Jane Wangui (Youth Advisor).

A further 294 officers who worked for Mr Odinga have been retained and continue to serve Mr Ruto.

“It is therefore not true that the office carried out massive transfers of the staff at the former Prime Minister’s office. On the contrary, it is the office of the Deputy President that requested the Public Service Commission to extend their contracts,” the Majority Leader said.

Suna East MP Mohammed Junet (ODM) had requested the government to supply Parliament with the list of persons he said had been moved from the DP’s office.