Akaranga rebukes deputy for love of bottle

Vihiga governor Moses Akaranga has said he will not sack his deputy Caleb Amaswache over claims of being drunk and disorderly at an airport while on an official tour of Singapore.
Addressing a public gathering at Esibila in Emuhaya, Akaranga said he was aware that his deputy was alcoholic and had been briefed of his alleged deportation after allegedly causing a commotion at Langi International Airport in the Asian country.
Akaranga who was reacting over the incident for the first time asked Amaswache being a public figure to style up and check on his public conduct. He revealed that he was under public pressure to send his deputy packing but explained that such an action will lead to a constitutional crisis since the law is silent over the removal of a deputy governor.
He said he was aware that a group of people were collecting signatures to push for the sacking of Amaswache but added that if he sent him home, he will have to remain without a deputy governor for the remainder of his term.
Amaswache strongly denied was put on a flight back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Singapore authorities after causing a commotion saying he was turned back for failure to produce travel documents and an invitation letter to attend a conference on affordable housing.
The deputy governor was present at the gathering where his boss spoke at length over his public conduct. Akaranga further asked the public to better understand their leaders and avoid condemning them harshly.
Akaranga however challenged the assembly to send home the suspended clerk Josphat Musambayi for allegedly running down the assembly. He said Musambayi, as an accounting officer was frustrating the legislation process in the assembly by sitting on a number of bills sponsored by the executive.
He gave an example of a bill that seeks to set aside Sh50 million towards a fund for the elderly that was forwarded to the assembly last year but had not been tabled in the assembly for deliberations.
Other pending bills before the assembly include the devolved units Bill, 2014, the county helb Bill, 2014, water Bill, 2014 and feeding programme and early childhood education Bill 2014.