Queries as youth board picks new head

Youth Enterprise Development Fund Chairman Bruce Odhiambo during a past interview. On February 12, 2016, Mr Odhiambo removed acting Chief Executive Mr Odero replacing him with Mr Morris Ondiek. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • At the centre of Mr Odero’s removal is Sh70 million which he is said to have secured from the Treasury to pay employees’ salaries and clear several pending bills.
  • Mr Odero was picked in an acting capacity to replace the former Chief Executive Catherine Namuye who was suspended in the wake of graft claims.

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund has once again been rocked by controversy following the removal of Mr Immanuel Odero as the acting chief executive and his replacement with Mr Morris Ondiek.

At the centre of Mr Odero’s removal is Sh70 million which he is said to have secured from the Treasury to pay employees’ salaries and clear several pending bills.

But some senior officials in the fund were said to have been furious at Mr Odero for disagreeing with them on how the amount should be spent.

The money was supposed to be wired on Friday, the day he was removed and replaced with Mr Ondiek, also in an acting capacity.

Sources intimated to the Sunday Nation that Mr Odero declined to have the amount used in paying for services and goods supplied to the fund by suppliers linked to senior officials and their associates.

Mr Odero was picked in an acting capacity to replace the former Chief Executive Catherine Namuye who was suspended in the wake of graft claims.

On Friday, the board chaired by Mr Bruce Odhiambo removed Mr Odero, replacing him with Mr Ondiek, who was heading the Enterprise Development Unit.

Sources within the board told the Sunday Nation on Saturday that the removal of Mr Odero could have been as a result of his efforts to stem any plans to loot the fund.

But the board chairman denied that Mr Odero’s removal was influenced by anyone.

“The board has the mandate to choose the best-placed person who can sit in an acting capacity and manage the fund professionally,” he said on Saturday.