Controversy surrounding a Sh42 million school feeding programme is said to have forced Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o to fire his executive in charge of Education John Ogone. 

The governor was also forced to send six high ranking officials from the same docket on compulsory leave including three directors, a chief officer, a procurement and accounts officer.

People Daily has established that the move was necessitated by internal investigations following an outcry from schools and Members of County Assembly on the feeding programme.

Food items

This is after schools failed to receive the food items and forwarded their complaints to area representatives who petitioned  Nyong’o to investigate.

Contacted for comment,  Nyong’o was reluctant to divulge details surrounding the sacking, saying it would interfere with investigations.

“Investigations are ongoing. What I can say for now is the dismissal was out of concerns about accountability and good governance,” he said.

According to the governor, the public servants who were sent on compulsory leave will resume duties if they are cleared of any wrong doing on the recommendation of the County Public Service Board.

Reached for comment, Dr Ogone said he was not made aware about the reasons for his sacking. 

“ I am not fully aware why I was being replaced. But my suspicion is that there were audit queries about some vouchers that had been approved by the Finance department for payment.

I asked the responsible accounting officers to respond. I had nothing to do with them but being the leader of my docket, I had to take political responsibility,” said the former lecturer. He was replaced by John Owiti, former principal of  St Mary’s Yala.