Siaya County Gov't fires 382 health workers over forged documents

The 382 individuals are accused of securing positions using forged employment documents.

According to the chief executive officer of the county public service board, Wilfred Nyagudi, the revelation follows an audit conducted in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations after more than 500 people complained of unpaid salaries.

Some of the affected workers, who claim to have been on duty for over nine months without pay, are now questioning the process.

“We noted several issues. Some of them were inconsistencies in the sequence of reference letters. Any letter we issue, such as deployments, must be signed by the chief of health. We had cases where somebody had a deployment letter dated earlier than their appointment,” said Wilfred Ouma Nyagudi, CEO of the Siaya County Public Service Board.

“Employment letters were given to us in December, and we reported in January. We have been diligent, we have been working. There is also the six-month probation period before confirmation into the system, and during that time, documents are supposed to be verified by the relevant bodies. That process was done,” said Emily Nabwala Anyango, one of the affected workers.

“We have been working hard to survive because how do you survive without being paid? We had to survive, dress well and smile to the patients. We have been doing that. What will happen to us now? Should we go home and tell our families we don’t have jobs, yet they know we have been working?” asked Felix Omondi, another victim.