By Team
Homa Bay County could be turning out as the theatre of the absurd where allegations of employment scandals such as claims of employment ‘auctioning’ and issuance of fake employment letters to unsuspecting and innocent job seekers are the hallmark.
Similarly, allegations of interference and manipulation of interview results are also rife with fingers being pointed at some senior officers at the county government.
Our investigations revealed that any employment advert by the country’s government has allegedly been turned into money taps where some unscrupulous employees at the county connive with crooks to con innocent job seekers of hundreds of thousands of shillings.
And now, a fresh storm could be brewing over the just concluded interviews for the employment of sub-county and ward administrators, where allegations of bribery for appointments have emerged.
The interviews were conducted for nine vacant positions for Sub County administrators and another five for Ward administrators and could have been bedeviled by allegations of corruption.
Sources who spoke to Western Insight Media but did not want to be quoted revealed that some officers were allegedly demanding between Sh 300,000 to Sh 500,000 to secure employment for the interviewees.
“It’s unfortunate how some people have turned employment opportunities at the county into money-milking ground. They harass any officers who want to have things done right. Some interventions need to be undertaken urgently to address this vice,” they said.
Our investigations also revealed that for instance for Early Childhood development education (ECDE), the job seekers part with Sh 20,000- Sh 50,000 to secure employment but most have been conned of their hard-earned money without landing any employment.
“Some of these suspects work in some of the top offices in the county government, The closeness with the administration has enabled them to swindle unsuspecting victims,” they said.
Another source revealed that the suspects must be exposed because they were tainting the image of the administration negatively.
“ Those suspects need to be exposed. They are giving the county and the governor a bad image. The governor cannot; police all the staff but this matter must be exposed to bring order in the county, “ our sources said.
Both at the county offices and in Homa Bay town, the allegations of employment scandals have dominated the informal conversations.
When we contacted the County secretary Prof Benard Muok for a comment he said “ I am in a meeting can you text please”.
However, after writing the text, Prof Muok did not respond to us by the time of going to the press.
Also, our attempts to contact Homa Bay County Public Service Board Charman Mr. Isaya Okoto were unsuccessful after he did not answer our calls and did not respond to our text messages.
Last Week, we exclusively reported how a Homa Bay Man allegedly lost Sh 240,000 in a fake job racket at the county
Subsequently, the victim wrote Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga over his ordeal and possible intervention.
In his letter he claimed, he lost the money to individuals working closely with the County Public Service Board members.
In a letter dated 26th September 2024, one Jactone Oduor claimed that a person named withheld for legal reasons conned him of the said amount in exchange with a letter of appointment for his son Evance Henry Opiyo for a revenue clerk (I) position on 12the June 2023.
He said despite his son receiving an appointment letter on 1st May 2023 for the position, his son is yet to absorbed.
“The above-named is my son and I am writing this complaint letter on his behalf as one who was swindled by fraudsters,” reads in parts the letter copied to Homa Bay County PSB, Intelligence Office, DCI Homa Bay, and the Homa Bay County Attorney.
“He (Evance) was given an appointment letter for the above post which has not materialized up to date,” he claimed.
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“First I sent an M-Pesa payment of Sh80,000 on demand by the suspect on the pretense that the available position was for revenue Clerk (III).” Reads the letter.
“Then he demanded another Sh.60,000 claiming that the boy was overqualified for the above post being that he is a graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a CPA (IV), hence he needed my son to be placed on Revenue Clerk (I),” he claimed
The complainant however claims that the suspect demanded that he take the boy to the CBSB immediately after the appointment letter was out which had a seal and a rubberstamp where he demanded some requirements like a file and a certification document plus another Sh100,000 before handing over the signed appointment letter to the applicant.
“For the record the accomplish received the Sh100,000 in cash, in the presence of my son; then he handed over the appointment letter,” he alleges.
“A total of Sh.240,000 was given to the suspects. He alleged the two were working in cohorts with some CPSB officials whom they can mention.
“Hon Governor, I am still stranded with my son at home and humbly request for your intervention so that my son Evance can secure employment,” said Oduor.
According to the appointment letter issued and signed by Homa Bay County Secretary and Head of Public Service Prof. Benard Muok reference number HB/PSB/APP2023/VOL1/10 Evance was appointed to Revenue Clerk One position and was to earn Sh31,270 per month with house allowance of Sh.5,800, Commuter allowance of Sh4,000 and another leave allowance of Sh4,000 per annum.
The letter was also signed by Evance upon reception.
I am pleased to inform you that following the successful interview held for the above position, the Public Service Board has approved your appointment to the position of revenue clerk.
This appointment takes effect from 1st May 2023.
However, according to Muok, the signature appearing in the appointment letter was fake.
“This is not my Signature. It is fake and I am not sure if the two are working for the County Government, but it is difficult to help when people are conned outside,” said Muok.
“The best would be to report to the Police,” replied the County Secretary to our WhatsApp message.
