The County Assembly of Siaya has approved a fresh batch of nominees to various executive positions, paving the way for their formal appointment into office following days of vetting and committee scrutiny.
In a sitting held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the House adopted reports from relevant Standing and Sectoral Committees that had earlier vetted the nominees between April 24 and April 28, before forwarding their recommendations for debate and approval.
The process was set in motion on March 31, 2026, when Governor James Orengo submitted the list of nominees to the County Assembly, prompting Speaker George Okode-led referral of the candidates to committees for detailed examination in line with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Among those approved for appointment are three former MCAs: Joseph Mboha, Willis Ochieng’ and Jared Abayo.
Joseph Mboha.
Photo credit: Pool
Mr Mboha, a former South East Alego Member of the County Assembly, now makes a return to public service in a senior administrative role as Chief Officer for Lands, Physical Planning, Surveying and Housing.
Mr Mboha’s nomination had attracted attention within political circles, given his past tenure in elective politics at the ward level, where he was known for his grassroots mobilisation and involvement in local development debates.
His elevation to the executive arm of the county government is expected to position him at the centre of land management and planning decisions, a docket often regarded as one of the most sensitive and politically charged in county administrations.
Jared Abayo.
Photo credit: Pool
In addition to Mr Mboha, the Assembly approved several other Chief Officer nominees, including Maurine Awuor Onyango (ICT and Public Service Transformation), Walter Okelo Ochieng’ (Governance and Administration), Wilfred Ouma Nyagudi (Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts), and Jared Onyango Abayo (Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources).
Wilfred Nyagudi.
Photo credit: Pool
The House also gave the green light to a number of County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), including Joseph Rading Otieno (Governance and Administration), Christine Jenifer Akinyi (Trade, Cooperatives and Industrialisation), Willis Okoth Ochieng’ (Agriculture, Irrigation, Food, Livestock and Fisheries), Erick Abungu Odawa (Public Works, Roads, Energy and Transport), and Ochogo Nicholas Kut (Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts).
However, the Assembly rejected George Odhiambo Nyingiro, who had been nominated for the Finance and Economic Planning docket, as well as Grace Agola, who was proposed for Education, Youth Affairs, Gender and Social Services.
Willis Okoth Ochieng'.
Photo credit: Pool
In the Public Service Board category, Dorothy Akinyi Owino withdrew from the vetting process before the hearings concluded.
Those approved to serve in the Siaya County Public Service Board include Frost Edwin Otieno Josiah, Rose Achieng, Lawrence Odero, and Oscar Onyango.
Separately, the House also approved Emma Velma Maumo as County Attorney, after confirming her compliance with provisions of the Office of the County Attorney Act, 2020, the Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, 2017, and the Constitution.
The Assembly’s approval now clears the way for Governor Orengo to formally appoint the nominees to their respective offices, completing the final stage of the county executive formation process.
For Mr Mboha, the appointment marks a significant return to public office, transitioning from elective politics at the ward level to a strategic administrative role expected to influence land policy, planning and housing development within the county.
