The Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol chair, which purportedly cost taxpayers Sh 1,120,000 to acquire for his use, was submitted to the Senate Committee hearing the impeachment case against the county leader.
On June 22, 2023, the chair was carried into the Senate, sparking excitement.
It was surrounded by senators who tested its comfort by sitting on it, swinging about, and laughing at how something so basic could cost Sh 1.12 million.
The office armchair is composed of thick, what seems like mahogany wood, has a tall seat back, and foam is tucked and pinned onto it from the seat back's beginning to the edge.
Then the retro-style armchair was then placed on wheels with other standard office chairs.
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'All right, (Honorable) Onyonga. We can put Senior Counsel to the test. You know, they claimed it was the lowest offer. Chimera is next, okay? You and your partner, if you have one, can use it. Now that everyone has seen it. The chair they were (referring to) is this one, the committee member stated, directing the senators to examine it.
Deputy Governor Oduol refuted reports that he paid Sh 1.12 million for a single chair, claiming that there was an error in the price and that the price was actually for three chairs, not one.
For the second time today, the 11-member special Senate committee met to hear arguments from members of the Siaya County Assembly regarding the impeachment.
James Orengo, the governor of Siaya, was impeached after Deputy Governor William Oduol revealed that Orengo had conspired with underlying personnel to embezzle up to Sh 100 million.
Honourable Orengo refuted the allegations made by his deputy and set out to persuade ODM senators to support Mr Oduol's removal from office by approving the charges against him.
The County asked Honorable Oduol to explain how Sh 18 million was spent on renovating his office and buying new furniture after he was inducted into office, in the case of the hunter became the prey.
He also bought other office furniture besides the seat he said cost Sh 1.12 million, and was an orthopaedic chair. The money spent on the new furniture included Sh. 336,700 for a presidential mahogany desk, Sh. 567,700 for a bookshelf cabinet, Sh. 756,700 for five curved coffee tables with accompanying stools, Sh. Two hundred thirty-eight thousand eight hundred forty for an executive orthopaedic desk chair back and fully spring seat, Sh. 178,200 for a mahogany in and out office tray, Sh. Two hundred fifty-four thousand eight hundred for executive custom-made round tables finished in two packs, and Sh. 2,844,000 for 12
A Priya executive orthopaedic desk chair and fully spring seat cost Sh 1,120,000, a six-meter conference table cost Sh 1,052,200, a Priya executive black, fully spring visitor seats cost Sh 168,000, a grooved coffee table cost Sh 211,400, and an executive custom desk cost Sh 330,000.
On June 8, Mr Oduol was accused of, among other things, purchasing furnishings at high costs and abusing his position to influence the awarding of contracts. He will find out his destiny on Friday.
