Top Siaya County government officials will have to appear before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for grilling over an employment scam that has hit the devolved unit, EACC’s Nyanza Regional Director Abraham Kemboi has said.

Kemboi said both the Executive, County Public Service Board and the county assembly leadership will be grilled to shed light on their role in the scandal that saw 382 healthcare personnel laid off despite having worked for eight months.

He was addressing the press at Siaya County Commissioner’s office where he led a team of detectives in an engagement with a section of the dismissed healthcare workers.

“You cannot conclusively make a recommendation without engaging the county government, the county public service board and even the county assembly as they are the ones who approve the structure and the budget for recruitment,” he said.

Kemboi said that they have agreed with the representatives of the victims to give them more time until Monday next week to submit their documents to help with investigations.

The representatives, Felix Omollo and Emily Nabwala, said they requested for more time since the EACC’s notice that wanted them to avail the documents was too short. Omollo said they have further agreed that the investigations would be extended beyond the 382 victims to include the entire group that received the letters.

Emily Nabwala called on the victims to cooperate with the EACC by making available all the requested documents on time.

Last week, Siaya Governor James Orengo called for comprehensive investigations into the employment scandal. Orengo further called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct lifestyle audits on the individuals who are persons of interest in the scam where job seekers were allegedly swindled millions of shillings.

The governor who addressed the media in his office further called on the Siaya County Assembly to hasten the hearing and determination of a petition from the victims of the scandal to pave the way for further action by the executive.

Orengo said that his government was ready to fully cooperate and abide with all recommendations and resolutions made by the county assembly and other relevant state organs.

• A Tell Media KNA by Philip Onyango