KISII, Kenya – Two senior officials from the Kisii County Assembly — including the Deputy Clerk and former Speaker — have been arrested over allegations of abuse of office and irregular hiring, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirms.
Deputy Clerk Daniel Mbaka Omwoyo and former Speaker David Ondimu Kombo are accused of orchestrating the unlawful appointment of Omwoyo’s niece, Everline Maraburi, to a permanent role within the County Assembly, in violation of public service hiring procedures.
EACC investigations revealed that Maraburi was irregularly recruited as a Clerical Officer and subsequently designated as the Speaker’s Personal Assistant, allegedly without approval from the County Public Service Board and in breach of recruitment guidelines.
The appointment was made on permanent and pensionable terms, contrary to public service rules that allow such roles to be filled on contractual basis only, as guided by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
“Mr. Kombo used his office to confer a benefit by allowing the appointment of Ms. Maraburi,” the EACC stated.
Mr. Omwoyo was arraigned on Monday day before Hon. Nyariki at the Kisii Law Courts, where he denied charges of abuse of office.
He was released on a cash bail of KES 50,000 or a KES 100,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount. The case will be mentioned on April 14, 2025.
Meanwhile, Kombo was arrested in Kajiado County and transported to Kisii, where he is expected to appear in court today to face similar charges.
The arrests mark another high-profile crackdown by the anti-graft agency on irregularities in county governments, especially around recruitment processes that often sideline merit in favor of personal ties and patronage.
ARREST AND ARRAIGNMENT OF DEPUTY CLERK AND FORMER SPEAKER OF KISII COUNTY ASSEMBLY FOR IRREGULAR RECRUITMENT The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Daniel Mbaka Omwoyo and David Ondimu Kombo, the Deputy Clerk and former Speaker of the County Assembly of
