It’s Not Siaya But Homabay that Leads in Corruption Cases in Nyanza— EACC

In a shocking exposé on television the new Chairman of Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) Bishop David Oginde has revealed that it’s not Siaya but Homabay County that is leading in cases of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

Calling in on a live broadcast on Ramogi TV, Bishop Onginde shocked viewers with the revelation that EACC is currently investigating cases of billions of shillings embezzled within the Homabay County Government.

Thinking that the Bishop had made a mistake in referring to Homabay instead of Siaya (often painted as a haven of corruption), Ramogi TV anchor Trevor Ombija asked the Chairman for clarity: “Siaya koso Homabay?” [Is it Siaya or Homabay?] to which Oginde confirmed without batting an eyelid —Homabay.

He went on to roll out several cases using fingers of both hands where the EACC is investigating amounts ranging from KES 600 million, KES 400 Million, KES 260 million among others.

So why is it that Siaya is largely perceived as a haven of thieves and mismanagement?

Poor Public Relations.

Those enjoined to carry out PR for the County Government of Siaya have done an unstructured and unprofessional shoddy job concentrating efforts on gossip carried out in WhatsApp groups rather than reaching out to the world.

On one hand, Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo has been a visionary civil rights crusader for many decades and perhaps he thought his popularity in the national platform will automatically metamorphose into county governance. It has not.

The national media has magnified corruption nuggets emanating from Siaya into the impression that the county is one of the worst in terms of poor management in Kenya. The fallout between the Governor and his Deputy early last year did not help matters any.

On the other hand Homabay Governor Gladys Atieno Wanga has invested in professional PR strategists such that even International pollster Ipsos Synovate was dupped into believing Homabay County is one of the best managed in Kenya.

It’s all PR and no one knew how to capitalize on it better than the former Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua.

That aside, EACC has vowed to route out Employees in both national and county governments who are holding positions acquired by the use of fake academic credentials.

EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde said the campaign targets all arms of the national government and county government departments to ensure that only qualified personnel are allowed in the establishment.

Cases of cheating and fake qualifications, he said, were on the increase with a good number of Kenyans securing public jobs, without the requisite qualifications.

“The cases are quite a number. We are finding a lot of reports from across the country and in different categories of government offices. It has come to us as something that we really need to work on,” Bishop Oginde said.

The chairperson said the use of fake certificates was unethical and threatened to erode Kenya’s respect globally at a time why the government was reaching out to various nations to export labour.

“Some countries are already beginning to blacklist our degrees and this would not be good for the young people of this country. If you are going to get a job out of the country and you present your papers and they are not trusted it will jeopardize our move to export labour,” he said.

Speaking in Kisumu after paying a courtesy call on Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, the Chairman said any person found holding office with fake academic certificates will face the full arm of the law.

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