79 employees of Nyamira County Government face potential job loss due to their use of fake academic certificates for employment and promotions.
Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo revealed that their salaries have been withheld, and their names forwarded to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further action.
Nyaribo announced this move during a media briefing at the County Headquarters on Friday, May 3, 2024, marking the beginning of efforts to cleanse the county payroll of unqualified individuals who have been draining millions from county funds.
“I made a pledge to the people of Nyamira that I will safeguard County resources, ensure integrity and uphold the constitution in my position as Governor. To safeguard the integrity of our payroll and Public Service, the County Government of Nyamira undertook a process of verification and authentication of academic and professional certificates for our staff,” Governor Nyaribo said.
“The first batch of 2,821 K.C.S.E Certificates were submitted to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) for authentication. KNEC submitted a report to us in April. The report from KNEC, indicates alterations of mean grades, subject scores, and exam center codes. In some cases, the index numbers in the certificates did not belong to the officers while others replaced names on certificates with theirs,” he added.
Affected departments include Health, with 24 cases, followed by Finance and Public Service Management, each with 13 cases. The Governor’s Office and Lands departments each have 9 cases, while Education and Environment have 3 cases each. Gender, Trade, and Public Service Board each have 1 case.
Governor Nyaribo further announced that the second batch of academic certificates will undergo verification by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and middle-level colleges next week.
Additionally, the governor revealed that 245 staff members had obtained promotions through fraudulent means, and this information will be disclosed soon.
“There is an individual, who promoted himself after just a single day. We will not spare such people,” Nyaribo said.
Governor Nyaribo revealed that the 79 employees whose salaries were halted collectively earned Sh4.8 million per month.
Among the affected employees are individuals holding senior positions within the county government.
In May 2023, the governor initiated a staff audit. Subsequently, two senior officers from the Human Resource Department were apprehended by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on charges of abuse of office.
