Kakamega
By Andrew Ombuni
Little was known about Laban Maloba Atemba until he was appointed as the Clerk of the Kakamega County Assembly in November last year after his predecessor, Patrick Wafula Kamwessar was retired.
His star is rising very first owing to his philanthropic activities he is engaged in across the county and rumour has it that he is destined to vie for the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat after the exit of the current Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
He said to have financial muscles to run a well-oiled governorship campaign and comes from Matungu constituency, which is part of Wanga voting block (Mumias East, Mumias West and Matungu) that has at least 154,600 voters as pre the 2017 General Elections. He also enjoys the support of a section of the current ODM MCAs at the Kakamega County Assembly.
Mr Atemba and Governor Oparanya share some similarities. They are both CPA holders and members of the Institute of Certified Public Accounts of Kenya (ICPAK). He has also served as ICPAK Secretary for Western Branch.
Atemba was born on April 10, 1969 in Khabukoshe village, Matungu Sub-County. He as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), a Masters of Business Administration (MBA – Finance Option) from Mt. Kenya University and currently pursuing his PhD in Finance.
Mr Atemba and Governor Oparanya share some similarities. They are both CPA holders and members of the Institute of Certified Public Accounts of Kenya (ICPAK). He has also served as ICPAK Secretary for Western Branch.
He has over 18 years of experience in Public Service Administration, having served in Butere/Mumias County Council as Revenue Officer from the year 2001 to 2006.
In the year 2006, he was moved to Kakamega County Council where he ascended to the position of Principal Revenue Officer up to 2008.
He later served as the Treasurer in Mt. Elgon County Council between the year 2008 and 2011 then transferred to Butere/Mumias County Council in the same capacity from 2011 to 2013 when he was absorbed to the County Assembly of Kakamega as the Principal Finance Officer (PFO) up to 2017.
Following his outstanding performance, he was elevated to be the Director of Financial Services in the same year until December 2018.
Atemba is the Chief Administrative Officer of the county assembly; and
responsible for the day-to-day management and functioning of the county assembly as well as providing expert, non-partisan and impartial advice to the members of the county assembly on the legislative process, and parliamentary procedure and practice.
On November 5, 2019, he was appointed the Interim Clerk of the County Assembly of Kakamega and then following the voluntary early retirement of his predecessor; Mr. Patrick Wafula Kamwessar was the pioneer Clerk who steered the Assembly through transition from the defunct Local Authority to the current Devolution governance.
Atemba is the Chief Administrative Officer of the county assembly; and
responsible for the day-to-day management and functioning of the county assembly as well as providing expert, non-partisan and impartial advice to the members of the county assembly on the legislative process, and parliamentary procedure and practice.
He is also the Secretary to the County Assembly Service Board in accordance with the conduct and business affairs of the Board.
As the Secretary to the County Assembly Service Board, the responsibilities of the County Assembly Clerk, he is the Chief Executive Officer of the Board, the Accounting Officer of the Board and the administrative head of the County Assembly Service.
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