West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo on Friday, December 5, confirmed taking action by not paying salary to absent deputy governor Dr. Nicholas Owon Atudonyang who has been in the US as a medical practitioner since his assumption of office.
Speaking on the Day Break Morning Show on Citizen TV, Lonyangapuo claimed that the county withheld salaries for the deputy governor from September 2018 after his absence caused a void in the county administration pattern.
“I have done the best that I can to monitor and I'm handling this issue. I do not pay salaries to the absent deputy governor,” remarked Lonyangapuo.
However, Lonyangapuo lamented a lack of legislation that would allow for the sacking of the deputy governor indicating willingness to replace him once the law gives him away.
“I cannot sack the deputy governor because the law does [not allow me to do that],” added governor Lonyangapuo.
Lonyangapuo brushed off claims that Atudonyang still receives some allowances from the county, alluding that the allegations have long been used by his political enemies to paint him in a bad light as a corrupt governor.
In August 2019, Dennis Ruto, a resident of West Pokot county petitioned the senate devolution committee to look into the situation claiming that the deputy governor’s absence was affecting the running of various county affairs.
Ruto castigated the governor laying claims that his deputy still receives his salary as stipulated.
The petitioner further told the committee that the deputy governor returned to the US immediately after the 2017 election, and only returned to Kenya briefly in December 2018 to handle his business interests.
In September 2018, governor Lonyangapuo confirmed the resignation of the deputy governor as the CEC for health and sanitation, a docket that was taken over by Geoffrey Lipale.
However, the deputy never resigned from his position as deputy governor leading to locals accusing him of using his position to gain wealth at the expense of the county.
The deputy governor who worked as a neurosurgeon in Texas since 2007 is said to have flown out after he was sworn into office.
