Fresh claims have surfaced against a member of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Board of Directors. A whistleblower says several job seekers paid large sums of money after they were allegedly promised employment through the official. The jobs, the source says, never came.
The whistleblower claims each victim handed over more than KSh200,000 after being told the payments would secure positions at KEMRI. Months later, the complainant says, the promised jobs had not materialized and the money had not been refunded.
The claims have raised fresh questions about how fraudsters and people claiming to have influence inside public institutions continue to target unemployed Kenyans. Every recruitment cycle brings reports of desperate applicants being asked for money in exchange for jobs that either do not exist or are never delivered.
KEMRI is one of Kenya's biggest public research institutions. It is funded by taxpayers and plays a key role in medical research and public health. Members of its Board are expected to uphold high standards of integrity and protect the reputation of the institution. Recruitment into public institutions is supposed to follow the Constitution, the Public Service Commission guidelines and public service values that require fairness, openness and equal opportunity.
The institution falls under the Ministry of Health. Any claims involving bribery, abuse of office or fake job recruitment can be investigated by agencies such as the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and, where public funds or public offices are involved, other oversight bodies.
The whistleblower says this is not an isolated case. According to the source, there are several complainants who claim they paid money after receiving promises of employment. The source says payment records, conversations and other documents are available and can be shared to support an investigation.
If the evidence confirms the claims, the matter could expose a scheme that preyed on unemployed Kenyans who were searching for work in one of the country's most respected public institutions. It could also raise questions about whether KEMRI's internal controls are strong enough to detect people who use the institution's name to solicit money from members of the public.
The complaint received reads
Hello Cyprian Nyakundi. Kindly expose a Board Director at the Kenya Medical Research Institute called Damaris Maweu, who is massively requesting payments in exchange for job placement, and she will never deliver even the job after receiving the bribe.
I have supporting evidence regarding this matter and am willing to share it with you, involving several clients each paying her more than 200k. Thanks.