Nairobi Council audit nets manager with fake papers

A middle level manager at the Nairobi City Council is in police custody after he was found with a fake degree certificate in the ongoing staff headcount. His said 'degree’ indicated Nairobi University yet there is no institution with such a name but rather the University of Nairobi.

On Monday, Town clerk, Philip Kisia said that the council would reveal all those caught with fake documents. He said that the consultants carrying out the exercise are currently scrutinising a verifying all the documents presented by more than 9,000 workers.

“I want to confirm that action will be taken against those who may have submitted fake documents. So far 9,554 workers have registered and PricewaterhouseCoopers is currently verifying all documents presented to ensure that they are genuine,” Mr Kisia.

He was speaking at a press briefing where he was accompanied by Nairobi Mayor Godfrey Majiwa, his deputy George Aladwa and several councillors. They said that the council’s payroll shows that it has 11,700 workers.

During the head count each worker is supposed to provide a birth certificate, national ID card or passport and the National Social Security Fund card.

In addition, the employees have to provide a National Health Insurance Fund card, latest payslip, two colour passport size photos and an employee number. The workers are also required to produce certificates for academic and professional qualifications and letter of appointment to the council.

Mr Majiwa and Mr Aladwa said that they expect the head count exercise to help the council deliver services to city residents better. Mr Kisia identified the man in custody as a Mr Patrick Makori.

He is said to have tried to compromise the officials conducting the exercise according to Kangemi councillor Amos Aromba. “This is very unfortunate that some officers have been siphoning money with fake qualifications.”

He noted that the officer was asked again to confirm the institution he attended whether “Nairobi University or University of Nairobi,”
A Nairobi lawyer, Jackson Mwangi, said if convicted on the offence of forgery unless stated otherwise would attract a three years imprisonment.

“The action was to defraud the council and block other qualified people from getting the job,” added Mr Mwangi.

“This is the use of deception to get higher position yet least qualified,” he added.

He added that it was a civil issue should the council want to demand the money they have paid him in his capacity because of the said certificate.

At the same time local government workers union is calling on the council to heed to a court ruling that dictates that a 30 day extension of the head count exercise.

Nairobi Chapter secretary, Benson Oliang’a urged the employees to take time in looking for all the required documents.

“It is important that the employees know that the court has given us an extension of 30 days,” he told the Nation.

He also sought to clear the perception that the Union was against the weeding out of the illegal employees.

“We are just saying that employees should not be treated like they were part of the hiring of ghost employees rather as stakeholders who want them out,” added Mr Oliang’a.

He added that since the management has promised better service delivery and salaries then they are eagerly waiting for the opportunity.

This followed an agreement entered in court between Kenya Local Government Workers Union and the city council to have the exercise extended to allow everybody participate. This means that the exercise which initially was meant to end by March 12 will continue for another thirty days after this date.

At the same time, the head count continues and by last week more than 20 per cent of the said employees were already counted.

During the head count each worker is supposed to provide a birth certificate, national ID card or passport and the National Social Security Fund card. In addition, the employees have to provide a National Health Insurance Fund card, latest payslip, two colour passport size photos and an employee number.

The workers are also required to produce certificates for academic and professional qualifications and letter of appointment to the council.