By P, KNA
Siaya governor, James Orengo has called for comprehensive investigations into the employment scandal that saw more than 380 people who were allegedly hired early this year laid off.
Orengo at the same time called on the ethics and anti-corruption commission to conduct lifestyle audits on the individuals who are persons of interest in the scam where job seekers were allegedly swindled millions of shillings.
Addressing a press conference at his boardroom Thursday, governor Orengo further called on the Siaya county assembly to hasten the hearing and determination of a petition from the victims of the scandal to pave way for further action by the executive.
“Noting the public outrage over this issue, we urge the assembly to conclude this matter in a fortnight rather than a month,” said the governor who was flanked by among others county secretary, Joseph Ogutu and the county executive committee member for health, Dr Martin K’Onyango among others.
Orengo said that his government was ready to fully cooperate and abide with all recommendations and resolutions made by the county assembly and other relevant state organs.
“There are clear procedures for qualified persons to be appointed and deployed as part of staff establishment. Jobs must be advertised, applications must be made and interviews conducted,” he said adding “that is the only path for qualified persons to be appointed and become employees of the county public service”.
Answering questions from journalists, governor Orengo said that his government has no records of an advertisement that was made inviting applications for job opportunities.
He said that such an advertisement would only have been made subject to availability of vacancies within the establishment and money being set aside within the budget.
The governor said that right now, his government was struggling to meet the national policy that requires wage bill not to exceed 35% of the county budget.
Last week, the Siaya county public service board chief executive officer, Wilfred Nyagudi announced that the county government has kicked out more than 380 ghost workers who reported to the health department early this year using forged employment documents.
According to Nyagudi, the board was forced to carry out an authentication exercise targeting over 500 people after hue and cry that those engaged this year had gone without salary for close to eight months.
Addressing the media at his office, Nyagudi said that the board only employed 120 workers who were issued with authentic letters after a rigorous interview exercise and was surprised that while reporting, the number all of a sudden ballooned.
He said that an unscrupulous syndicate appeared to have taken advantage of the situation and forged letters which were issued to unsuspecting youth.
The move has since attracted condemnation from far and wide, with the affected workers demonstrating and presenting petition to the Siaya county assembly demanding reinstatement.
Among those who have been demanding for a response from governor Orengo are legislators Samuel Atandi (Alego – Usonga) and his Gem counterpart, Elisha Odhiambo who urged the governor to take action against some individuals within his office who have been named as persons of interest.
