Reported By Our Investigative Reporter.

THE operations at the Kisumu based Lake Victoria South Water and Sanitation Board came to a standstill earlier this week following life threatening confrontation between the two board’s top officials.

The confrontation between the board’s Chief Executive Officer Eng.Michael Ochieng’ and the chairman of the board of directors George Donji prompting the Provincial Administration to post a dozen of armed administration officer officers to secure and protection the offices.

The two men are all from Ugenya constituency within Siaya County and are said to be neighbors, but have sharp differences on matters of principles and issues of protocol.

The board offices are located in the posh Milimani estates beside the ring rod separating Nyalenda Peri-urban area and Milimani estate.

In January 2008 the compound of the Lake Victoria Water Board was the scene of massive looting and destruction of property worth millions of shilling including brand new government vehicles, most of the fuel guzzling Pajeros and other sleek cars which were torched to ashes by marauding bands of youths in the post election violence.

Sources in Kisumu say the misunderstanding between the two top officials of the board originated from the conflicts of interests between the headquarters of the Water Ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister. This claim, however, could not immediately be ascertained and confirmed.

The same sources revealed that the contract of the CEO Ochieng’ expired at the end of May this year but secret maneuvers were made to have the contact extended. It was eventually extended by one month following intensive lobbying by a cartel of power brokers.

But one month extension expired at the end of July, and it is being alleged that the instruction had come from the Ministry of Water in Nairobi that the CEO should vacate his office immediately pending further decision and that a senior official at the board should serve as an acting CEO pending further instruction. The same instruction seemed to have been given to the Provincial and police authorities.

It is further alleged that after consultations with politicians the CEO decided not to vacate his office unless instructed from the office of the PM.

Meanwhile ODM activists in Kisumu joined the fray and mobilized a band of party youth to escort the CEO to his office and offer him the necessary protection. But this move came later after the administration got the wind of the pending invasion by the youth and posted ten armed administration police officer to secure and protect the offices.

The CEO and his mob of youths arrived at the office and found the gate locked with instruction that nobody should be allowed in, while the police men had secured the compound. Heated argument ensued between the CEO and the security personnel manning the gates who in turn told therou that he had firm instruction to bar anyone entering the compound.

This happened when the chairman Mr Donji and staff were busy working inside the compound, and the CEO pleaded with him that he should be allowed in to collect his personal effects, but at the same time insisted being accompanied by the youths. But the chairman is said to have told the CEO that he could only be allowed into his office alone, but on condition that he would be subjected to police escort and nobody else. The confrontation lasted for the better part of the day, when the CEO eventually drove off in the company’s motor vehicle and never heard off gain.

The latest development and stand off came about following serious allegation of favoritism in awarding contracts to suppliers. And that nearly 70 per cent of jobs at the board worth millions of shillings were contracted exclusively to the two sons of a prominent politician and concubines.

There were also claims of excessive extortion perpetuated by one ODM activist who is a former second hand shoe hawker at the main Kisumu Bus Terminal who is acting as a conduit and power broker at a fee. The man a non-Luo is always bragging of having the ears of all important Luo politicians and even Ministers. He said to be always seen shuttling between Kisumu and Nairobi using flights whose tickets is paid by those seeking favor from “Big Men and Women within the corridors of power.” The same character is being suspected to have played the pivotal role in securing the one month extension of the contract of the CEO.

Contractors and suppliers also have a bone to chew with one unnamed top official at the board who has over stayed and who is said to be so notorious of having perfected in the art of “Kick-Backs and bribery money”. It is also being alleged that the officer in question is always demanded his cut at a certain percentage before releasing cheques to the suppliers for the work done to the supplier and contractors and that such deals are always conducted in bar and restaurants or eating houses.

A story is widely spread in Kisumu and its environs of an MP from the larger Southern Nyanza region who recently stormed the office of the board’s CEO demanding to know the reason why his people have not yet been connected to water supply system for which the government has already paid millions of shillings. The MP is reported to have issued the threat that he would lead his people to stage demonstration protest if his people did not get clean water for health by November this year.

Other unconfirmed allegations are to the effect that the officials of this board have been seen entertaining politicians their cronies and power-brokers at the exclusive clubs in the lakeside city where they are extravagantly spending money for favoritism and protection. In such outing beautiful English speaking girls re not outdone and are ever presence.

As this report was being written, no word has come from Nairobi either from the parent Ministry or the Office of the PM indicating how the matter would be resolved. But strong rumor being spread by power brokers and political sycophants who are closely associated with the senior politician whose two sons are alleged to have undeservedly benefited from contracts and supplies to the board were heard bragging that Eng. Ochieng’ would be reinstated back to his job.

This is against the backdrop of the announcement made on Wednesday that the board has already appointed a Mr Gideon Kirui as the new Chief Executive Officer of the board. Kirui has served the board senior finance officer will be on acting capacity.

The appointment was announced by the board’s chairman George Donji, but Eng Ochieng’ defiantly denied the alleged changes saying the decision was personal and not the board’s decision.

During his tour of Kisumu on Friday, Eng. Ochieng was seen closely consulting with people perceived to be close to the PM.

Ends