James Oswago has now been confirmed as Secretary and CEO of the IEBC. A source within the IEBC said Oswago has been confirmed by chairman Isaack Hassan recently after a plenary approval last year.
“The commission met last year and approved the appointment of the CEO and his two deputies after controversy over the fate of the CEO sent wrong signals to the public,” the source said.
Oswago who has been in an acting capacity since last year March, was confirmed alongside his two deputies Beatrice Nyabuto and Wilson Shollei. The three will serve a five year renewable term from the date of their appointment.
Speaking to the Star on phone yesterday, Oswago confirmed that he had received his formal appointment. “It is true that I have been given a five year contract backdated to 2010,” he said.
This now brings to an end long running differences between the commission and the CEO over his contract. Oswago, Hassan and Yusuf Nzibo are the only individuals who transited to the IEBC when the mandate of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission ended last year.
Last year Hassan terminated Oswago’s contract and appointed him on an acting capacity though on the same terms he enjoyed before. The CEO’s position and that of his two deputies was advertised.
However, the move to replace Oswago was quashed by Kisumu high court Judge Abida Aroni who termed the move a “violation of contractual agreement and against the rules of natural justice.”
