Siaya County Government has dismissed more than 380 workers after they were found to have used fake documents to secure jobs in the health department. The announcement left many employees shocked, with some fainting or collapsing as the reality sank in.
Wilfred Ouma Nyagudi, CEO of the Siaya County Public Service Board, said the board carried out an authentication exercise targeting over 500 people. This followed complaints that employees hired earlier this year had not received salaries for almost eight months.
“The board only employed 120 workers through a proper interview process,” Nyagudi explained. “However, when reporting for duty, the number unexpectedly rose. It became clear that a criminal syndicate had forged employment letters to deceive young people.”
The investigation involved the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Officials verified documents by checking reference numbers, dates, and other parameters. The results confirmed that many appointment letters were forged.
During a briefing, Nyagudi, County Secretary Joseph Ogutu, and Health CEC Dr. Martin K’Onyango informed staff that only 128 of the 510 reporting workers were legitimate employees. Some appointment letters had dates that did not match official records, further confirming the fraud.
The news caused emotional scenes. Some employees fainted, while others knelt and wept. Many claimed to have paid up to Sh350,000 for the fraudulent letters. Ogutu told those affected that the county government would not compensate them and advised victims to take legal action against the fraudsters.
Affected employees, including clinical officers Emily Nabwala Anyango and Felix Omondi, said they had worked diligently, hoping to be confirmed after probation. Omondi, who served at Ligega Health Centre, lamented surviving on loans during the past eight months.
The Siaya County Government has warned the public against fraudulent employment schemes. Only workers with verified appointment letters are recognized as legitimate employees.
