Siaya County has been thrown into turmoil after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened investigations into what could be one of the biggest recruitment scandals in recent years.
The probe follows damning reports that more than 500 health workers were secretly hired without official approval or due process. Early findings suggest that some desperate job seekers were allegedly forced to part with bribes of between Ksh300,000 and Ksh350,000 just to secure appointment letters.
The scandal has raised fears of “ghost workers” infiltrating the payroll, with the number of irregular appointments far exceeding what had been authorised by the county government.
Nyanza region EACC boss Abraham Kemboi confirmed that the commission had flagged the matter and was now moving in decisively.
“As a commission, we have launched investigations into this scandal,” Kemboi said.
“We had attempted earlier, but there was no cooperation from those involved. Now, a comprehensive probe starts on Thursday, September 25, and those behind it will be held accountable," he added.
Kemboi added that the county never officially requested the recruitment of 500 health workers, describing the move as an illegal attempt to sneak workers into the system.
“The commission will take action, and those who orchestrated this scam will be brought to book,” he affirmed.
This scandal adds to growing concerns in Kenya’s health sector, where irregular recruitment and ghost worker schemes have become rampant.
Just last month, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale warned that individuals who had been pocketing salaries for years without working would not only face prosecution but also be forced to refund all the money they took illegally.
Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku also revealed that the government is finalising a master list of ghost workers across the country, which will soon be published, signaling more crackdowns ahead.
For Siaya, the scandal has not only embarrassed Governor James Orengo’s administration but also left many wondering: if over 500 health workers could be smuggled into the system, how many more ghost employees are hidden in plain sight?
