Governor James Orengo on Monday sought to cool tempers after the irregularly employed and dismissed 382 health workers marched to the County Headquarters.
While addressing the group—many of whom have been working in county facilities without proper records— the Governor underscored his government’s “zero tolerance” stance on corruption. He vowed that no shadowy recruitments would be swept under the carpet.
A Web of Irregular Appointments
The 382 individuals, sources say, cut across different cadres—health workers, clerical staff, and field officers. Yet county records suggest that many never went through the Public Service Board’s recruitment process. Others allegedly presented appointment or deployment letters later found to lack official reference numbers.
“The law is clear. Public jobs cannot be bought or traded in backrooms. Those who colluded to exploit desperate job seekers will be exposed,” Orengo said, adding that beginning Friday, he will personally review each of the contested letters.
Victims or Accomplices?
The controversy raises a tough question: Are these 382 individuals victims of an elaborate scam, or silent accomplices in fraudulent hiring? Interviews with some of them reveal a mix of fear and uncertainty. Several claim to have paid intermediaries “facilitation fees” ranging from KSh 50,000 to KSh 200,000 for their positions.
One affected worker told SIAYA TODAY, on condition of anonymity: “We were told the jobs were genuine. Some of us have worked for more than a year without permanent contracts. Now we are being told our letters could be fake. If we are victims, why punish us?”
County officials, however, insist that ignorance is no defence if one knowingly entered service without due process.
Institutional Investigations Widen
The County Assembly and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have already opened parallel probes into the saga. Both bodies are investigating whether senior officers in the Public Service Board, human resource department, and sector-specific offices facilitated the irregular hiring.
Governor Orengo has urged all affected individuals to cooperate with investigators, warning that anyone found to have engaged in forgery, bribery, or extortion will face both disciplinary and criminal consequences.
“Some people in authority have been turning desperation into an ATM. That culture must end,” the Governor declared.
Flanking Orengo during the meeting were County Secretary Joseph Ogutu and Health CEC Dr. Martin K’Onyango—both senior figures who acknowledged the gravity of the crisis. The presence of health sector leadership was telling, as the bulk of the questionable appointments are said to have been made in hospitals and dispensaries, where staff shortages have historically been exploited to justify “emergency” hires.
The scandal has sparked fresh debate on the integrity of devolved employment systems. Analysts warn that Siaya’s unfolding case may only be the tip of the iceberg, echoing similar recruitment scandals in other counties where “briefcase letters” have circulated unchecked.
For Orengo, the stakes are high. His administration, in its third year, is being tested on whether it can dismantle entrenched patronage networks and restore confidence in county institutions.
The Governor has promised transparency in the verification exercise, even as fears of mass dismissals loom. For the 382 individuals, the coming weeks could determine whether they are absorbed legitimately, dismissed, or prosecuted.
For Siaya residents, the unfolding saga could reveal whether the promise of devolution—to bring accountable and efficient government closer to the people—can withstand the lure of corruption.
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