Migori Launches Crackdown as 19 County Workers Resign Over Fake Academic Papers
Migori County is in the spotlight after nineteen county employees abruptly resigned following revelations that they were among a group accused of using forged academic certificates to secure government jobs. The resignations come as the county government begins a major clean-up exercise targeting 93 workers flagged for presenting illegitimate primary, secondary, or tertiary education documents.
According to County Secretary Oscar Olima, the employees chose to leave voluntarily rather than face disciplinary action or criminal investigation. He confirmed that his office had received official resignation letters from the 19 individuals, marking the first wave of exits since the verification process began. Olima added that 25 other workers facing similar allegations have formally requested an opportunity to defend themselves before the County Public Service Board.
The crackdown stems from an audit conducted by the Human Resource Audit Institute in 2023 and further reinforced by a countywide staff headcount exercise. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) reportedly verified over 2,700 academic records for Migori staff, eventually identifying cases involving forged KCPE and KCSE certificates. Olima stressed that the clean-up is not politically motivated, saying it is a necessary step to safeguard public resources and restore professionalism in the county workforce. He further revealed that investigations have expanded to include suspicious college-level certificates.
All 93 employees implicated in the scandal have already been removed from the county payroll as the verification process continues. County leadership says the purge aims to uphold integrity in public service and ensure that only qualified individuals hold taxpayer-funded positions. The move has sparked mixed reactions among residents, with some applauding the effort to fight fraud while others worry that service delivery may be affected in the short term.
Migori County officials say the next phase will involve completing the internal hearings for workers seeking to clear their names, with final decisions expected in the coming weeks. The crackdown is expected to serve as a precedent for other counties grappling with similar issues of forged credentials and unverified personnel files.