Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has nominated four candidates to the position of chairperson and members of the Kakamega County Public Service Board (KCPSB).
The four were nominated following a competitive recruitment process done by a selection panel that was approved by the County Assembly.
The Governor nominated Mr. James Robert Wakungwi Isakwa to be the chairperson of the Board and Raphael Milikau Otaalo, Vivien Ayuma Asiachi and Jason Stanlake Mulama as members. The four nominees await vetting for their suitability and approval by the County Assembly.
Addressing the press at the County Headquarters on Wednesday, Barasa said once vetted and approved, the fully constituted CPSB’s first assignment will be to recruit 12 chief officers.
“As you are aware, there are still vacancies for chief officers and they can only be recruited by the County Public Service Board,” he noted.
The CPSB has not been operational since 2023, when its members were impeached by the County Assembly following a petition filed by a resident Dennis Muhanda to the Assembly.
The Assembly then voted for the removal of the board members on charges of serious violation of the constitution, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and conflicts of interest among others.
The four impeached board members are chairperson Catherine Omweno and members Stanley Were, Ralph Wangatiah, and Joel Omukoko.
The four however moved to court to appeal their impeachment, with the Employment and Labor Relations Court in Kakamega overturning their impeachment On 6th June 2024.
The ELRC then ordered their immediate reinstatement and awarded each of them Sh1 million in damages.
However, the County Government moved to the Court of Appeal over the ELRC’S verdict and on 7th February 2025, a three-judge appellate bench overturned the ELRC’s judgment.
By Moses Wekesa
