This archive report was first published on 9 September 2019.
On September 9, 2019, a court in Nyeri heard allegations of corruption and irregularities in the county's public service board.
Investigator Boru Sayad testified that the board members recruited unqualified persons to powerful senior positions, disregarding civil service guidelines.
The board allegedly approved the appointment of candidates who had forged academic certificates, including Mr. Johnson Njogu Kiongo and Mr. Jackson Kibutu Thagana, who were hired as Ward Administrators despite having fake academic papers.
Mr. Kiongo had forged a diploma certificate from Vision College of Business Accounts, while Mr. Thagana forged a certificate from Presbyterian College to secure the job.
The two are facing charges of forging academic documents, which they have since denied.
According to the detective, the positions of ward and sub-county administrators require post-graduate qualifications and a bachelor’s degree.
For instance, Mr. Boru testified, the board hired Mr. George Mwangi Muriithi and Phares Kabugi Njogu as sub-county administrators in breach of the law by failing to consider their qualifications.
From 2014 when they were hired up to September 2018, the two had earned cumulatively more than Sh10 million before tax.
“The two were not qualified. They were not charged in court and are still in the service,” said Mr. Boru, stating that he investigated the irregularities for a period of four years.
