By P, KNA
Members of Parliament from Siaya have challenged Governor James Orengo to act decisively against culprits who orchestrated an employment scandal that saw over 380 newly recruited health workers dismissed.
Legislators Samuel Atandi (Alego / Usonga) and his Gem counterpart, Elisha Odhiambo said the Orengo administration cannot claim innocence about the matter as long as it continues to accommodate and embrace those behind the scandal that, they added, led to hundreds losing money to a corruption network.
Speaking at Uranga in Alego / Usonga, the MPs said it was worrying that the county government administration had failed to take disciplinary action on those behind the scandal.
Atandi said governor Orengo’s silence over the matter was wanting, making the public to conclude that he could have been a beneficiary of the corrupt activities.
“I recently visited a disabled constituent who tearfully narrated how she sold family land to secure a county job for her daughter. The daughter ended up working for a few months without pay and later was sacked together with the other over 380 fakes,” said Atandi.
He challenged Orengo to sort out the issues affecting Siaya county and stop being vocal on matters affecting the national government while doing nothing to correct the mess in his own backyard.
Gem legislator said as youthful Members of Parliament, they will stand firm against corruption within Siaya county government and ensure that the health workers get their rights.
In September this year, Siaya county government kicked out more than 380 newly employed health workers, on grounds that they had used forged documents to present themselves for work.
According to the chief executive officer of the Siaya County Public Service board, Wilfred Ouma Nyagudi, the board was forced to carry out an authentication exercise targeting over 500 people following a hue and cry that those engaged this year had gone without salary for close to eight months.
The matter has since been taken over by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission who urged those affected to avail their documents for authentication.
