Tony Gachoka (director of protocol) grew horns and now chopped by his boss, the Permanent Secretary - Who will win the fight?
March 14th, 2009
Will Raila aid his aide and discipline the PS instead?
Prime minister Raila Odinga is given a brief by Tony Gachoka (left) in a past event. PHOTO/ FILE
In Summary
- Gachoka accused of disrespect to seniors, expenditure without boss’s permission
An aide to Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been interdicted over a disagreement with permanent secretary Mohammed Isahakia.
Tony Gachoka, the director of protocol in the PM’s office, was suspended for allegedly undermining his boss.
In a letter dated March 13, 2009, the PS said: “Your conduct continues to be disrespectful, malicious and amounts to complete insubordination intended to undermine the office of the Prime Minister.”
Mr Gachoka, who will be on half a salary, was instructed not to leave his duty station without permission from his immediate supervisor.
Temporarily
When one is interdicted from the civil service, his services are terminated temporarily until allegations levelled against him are verified.
However, sources within the PM’s office told the Sunday Nation that Mr Gachoka may not be sacked.
According to correspondence seen by the Sunday Nation, trouble for Mr Gachoka began when he sent an email to Mr Odinga, Dr Isahakia and four other officers at the PM’s office complaining of the PS’s alleged inefficiency in running official matters.
“The absence of orderly handling of this sort of matters makes the office seem inefficient and I would like a serious meeting called to have the PS take charge and responsibility for running the office or say if he is unable to do so,” the email said.
He also accused Mr Odinga’s secretary, of inefficiency, adding that senior officers were forced to “sweet-talk” her to get work done.
In response, Dr Isahakia wrote to Mr Gachoka on March 10 terming the email as one displaying “unprofessional conduct”.
He asked Mr Gachoka to respond within 14 days indicating why serious disciplinary action, including termination of his services, should not be taken against him.
In the letter, Dr Isahakia said he had received complaints from staff within and outside the PM’s office, including Cabinet ministers, of his “abusive and unprofessional behaviour in matters of government business”.
“I wish to remind you that as a public servant you are bound by the code of regulations that determines the conduct of all civil servants,” the letter said in part.
The PS stated that Mr Gachoka constantly skipped work without permission, reported to work under the influence, and committed the PM’s office to unauthorised expenditure.
Mere witch-hunt
On the same day, in a letter copied to the Prime Minister, Mr Gachoka termed the PS’s action “mere witch-hunt”.
“I wish to say that the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister is not, in my opinion, discharging the duties of his office at an acceptable level of competence to achieve success in the management, coordination and direction necessary to assist the Prime Minister attain his mandate,” Mr Gachoka said in his letter.
He said all allegations levelled against him were generalisations that were not backed by any facts. He said that Dr Isahakia had not taken action against another aide whom Mr Odinga had said was suspended over corruption allegations.
“The permanent secretary has made no effort to clear his name in the public over allegations of involvement in the maize scandal, therefore allowing the perception of high level corruption to taint this office,” Mr Gachoka said.
source.nation.ke