Ministers and MPs defy corruption law

• 2000 teachers face the sack as failure by 28,000 officers to declare wealth tests will to tame sleaze

“They defended themselves and their responses were dealt with administratively. The rules demand that their salaries be stopped if the explanations are not convincing,” Mrs Nzioki said.

She defended the PSC, saying it was one of the most effective state institutions which has won the regional medal for competence in on-line service delivery and took the coveted prize from the Africa Association of Public Administration and Management last year.

Declare wealth

“It is not enough to receive and keep the declaration of wealth forms for 30 years without mechanisms to monitor and counter check the truth through an investigative authority. A new body to do that is being worked on and some sections of the law has been amended,” Mrs Nzioki said.

The amendment of the Public Officer Ethics Act also seeks to empower the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission to determine whether a public officer has contravened the code of conduct and ethics. The agency can now have access to declarations filled by any public servant.

TSC boss Gabriel Lengoiboni last week sent a letter to all provincial directors of education indicating that 1,885 teachers from both primary and secondary schools would lose their jobs.

Eight workers of the teachers’ secretariat will also face the sack on the same grounds.

“All directors of education will be required to give a report on why the teachers failed to declare their wealth and indicate any other disciplinary cases against them,” Mr Lengoiboni said.

Rift Valley Province will be the worst affected when 801 teachers will be sent home followed by Eastern and Nyanza provinces, with 268 and 255 teachers.

According to the head of the TSC Integrity division, Mr N. L. Lolgisoi, wealth declaration was affected by the post-election violence. This may, therefore, explain why the large number of teachers, especially in Rift Valley, failed to comply.

Reports by Benjamin Muindi, Oliver Mathenge and Kenneth Ogosia