She was arguably little known until the new Ksh.9 billion National Youth Service (NYS) scandal surfaced.
Lillian Wanja Muthoni Mbogo Omollo, 44, came into the public sector after ten years of working with international organisations.
Currently suspended, Omollo was a Principal Secretary for barely two and a half years, during which time she was faced with the tough responsibility of changing the face of NYS.
In the latest case against her, the High Court has issued orders freezing 10 bank accounts belonging to former Youth and Gender Affairs Principal Secretary who is facing several charges over theft of funds at the National Youth Service (NYS).
The orders lasting for three months were issued on Tuesday following an application by the Assets Recovery Agency.
According to court documents, six of the accounts are held at Equity Bank while four are with Diamond Trust Bank.
“That the preservation orders shall remain in force 90 days as provided for under section 84 of Proceeds of Crime and Anti- Money Laundering Act,” reads the court order.
The court documents further show that four of the accounts are registered under the name LIDI Estates Limited, three are under Ms. Omollo’s name while the rest are registered under other names allegedly related to the former PS.
Omollo rode on her desire to empower the youth with the vetting committee noting that “her main goals as PS would be to create sustainable economic programmes for the youth. She noted that youth and public service were at the heart of development”.
Even though she had never directly worked for the government, the team repeatedly expressed confidence in her candidature.
“She is conversant with government accounting and reporting requirements, budgeting, performance contracting and administrative procedures which enable her to share and support best practices desirable in advancing the mandate of institutions,” their report said.
The skills demonstrated during her interview were again seemingly evident on Friday last week when she appeared before the Public Accounts Committee probing the NYS scandal.
In fact, the MPs were sympathetic to her situation wondering why she was sent on compulsory leave despite her track record in reportedly reforming the NYS.
Omollo holds a Master of Education Degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Illinois, USA as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Kenyatta University.
Her career spans 18 years having worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Project Manager of the Public Sector Reforms Programme between 2005 and 2011; a season that probably prepared her for her current job.
Before she was picked to be PS, she worked as chief executive of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD): an economic development programme of the African Union.
While she now faces possible charges of abuse of office, conspiracy and neglecting duty, in December 2015 she got a clean bill of health.