Former Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Innovation Principal Secretary (PS) Jerome Ochieng found himself under scrutiny as he defended his decision to accept a nomination for a county-level position, a move seen by some as a step down from his previous high-profile national role.
During the vetting session, Market Milimani Ward MCA Seth Kanga voiced a common concern, questioning why Ochieng, who once oversaw national projects worth billions of shillings as the Accounting Officer for the State Department of ICT and Innovation, would opt for the position of County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Housing, and Urban Planning in Kisumu. This role, proposed by Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, comes with a significantly smaller budget of Sh500 million.
“You have managed a State Department with a budget running into billions, yet Kisumu County’s total budget is only about Sh12 billion. Why are you accepting a lesser job than your previous position? Typically, civil servants move upwards, not downwards,” Kanga questioned.
Ochieng, who holds a Master’s degree in Information Engineering from the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, responded with a focus on his commitment to public service over personal gain. “I see myself as a career civil servant dedicated to service delivery. Even as PS, I ensured that our projects benefited the public. This move is not about the salary or the portfolio, but about continuing to serve,” he asserted.
Despite lucrative offers from private mobile networking companies, Ochieng emphasized his desire to remain in public service. “I have had opportunities to earn higher salaries in the private sector, but I declined because my passion lies in serving the government. My departure from the PS role was due to political realignment, not my choice, and I am not yet at retirement age. I still have the energy and commitment to serve,” he explained.
The vetting session took a challenging turn as MCAs brought up a 2019-2020 Auditor General’s report, which criticized the ICT and Innovation Department for lack of documentation and transparency. Ochieng defended his record, explaining that the issues raised had been resolved and that the National Treasury held the necessary documents. “The projects mentioned were donor-funded and payments were made directly through the National Treasury. We had to submit the original documents to them, which is why they were not available during the audit,” he clarified.
Ochieng’s tenure as the former Head of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) also came under scrutiny. He maintained that IFMIS was a highly effective tool for managing public resources, asserting that 70% of the system was operational and effective.
Looking ahead, Ochieng outlined his plans for the Lands docket if cleared by the committee. His priorities include operationalizing new municipalities in Maseno, Ahero, Katito, and Muhoroni, upgrading infrastructure, and digitizing the land docket to improve public access to services. “My experience in digitizing courts in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu will be invaluable in modernizing our land, housing, and urban development operations,” he noted.
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Elisha Oraro, who chaired the meeting, concluded by stating that the committee would deliberate and prepare a report to be tabled in the assembly for adoption. The decision will determine whether Jerome Ochieng will transition from national to county leadership, bringing his extensive expertise to local governance.
Kisumu City News
