Education ministry in staff recruitment scandal

By Peter Opiyo

The Ministry of Education has conceded there was irregular recruitment of 2,074 low cadre staff to take up various positions in the Ministry in 2010.

The recruitment failed the integrity tests as an audit revealed that those who got the jobs did not apply neither were they shortlisted. On the flip side some of those who qualified were never given the jobs.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Equal Opportunity Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo said the recruitment was a mistake and there was no way he could defend it.

“This was a mistake. The recruitment is something difficult to defend,” said Mr Mutula of the recruitment of adult education officers.

The ministry detected some irregularities in the recruitment and an audit carried out by the Ministry of Finance revealed that 436 individuals were shortlisted yet they did not apply for the jobs.

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Another 344 were issued with appointment letters yet they were not among those shortlisted while 239 who were successful at the interviews were not issued with the appointment letters.

The parliamentary chairman Mr Mohammed Affey described the recruitment irregularity as a scandal saying the ministry of education was to blame.

“The architect of this scandal is the ministry of education,” said Mr Affey. But Mr Mutula pointed a finger at some officers in the ministry and not the entire staff.

Disciplinary action has already been taken against some of the officers responsible for the mess.

In a letter to the ministry the auditors said there were weak controls in the recruitment.

“The issues raised in the audit report clearly demonstrate existence of weak control environment at the Ministry of Education headquarters,” Treasury PS James Kinyua wrote to then Education PS James ole Kiyiapi.

The process of the recruitment was initiated by the ministry of education in May 2009 and it was concluded in July 2010 when those recruited reported. But complaints about the integrity of the process were raised prompting the Ministry of Finance to carry out an audit.

After the audit the Public Service Commission cancelled the entire recruitment process and directed that it be restarted but the Ministry of education appealed against this and the PSC rescinded its decision.

The Ministry now seeks for permission for fresh recruitment.

“During my watch this would not happen. I was waiting for this Committee to conduct a hearing so that I can go back and start a better process,” said Mutula.

Mr Affey said the Committee has also summoned Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno, PSC and Mr Mutula to appear before it on Tuesday next week.

“We are summoning them to shed more light on the matter and explain the genesis of this scandal. They have infringed on the rights of many Kenyans by denying them an opportunity to serve in the ministry,” said Affey.