Six staffers in the offices of Kakamega County Governor, Fernandes Barasa and his Deputy Ayub Savula, have gone underground after they were found to have allegedly used fake academic documents to secure employment.
The employees had reportedly been ordered to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kakamega after it was established that they presented questionable academic credentials to the County Public Service Board.
The suspects include Desterio Wanganya Okumu, a former radio commentator, Geoffrey Aligula Minodi who is a long-serving Personal Assistant to Deputy Governor Ayub Savula and Fred Muka Shiami, a political blogger.
The others include Thomas Omurunga Oyolo, a comedian, Tariq Aziz Shitiabai and Anderson Musungu Amoi.
Okumu reportedly presented a fake University Degree to get hired as Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Economic Advisor.
“Desterio has been using his closeness to the governor to harass county executives and chief officers demanding favours,” said a County staffer who asked not to be mentioned.
He added that Okumu had gone into hiding after learning that the sleuths were after him.
Oyolo, commonly known as ‘Professor Eshuya’ and stars as ‘Bishop’ in a comedy called ‘Mshamba’, is also said to have taken his jokes too far and forged a Diploma Certificate from Sigalagala National Polytechnic which he used to secure a job in the County Government as a receptionist.
Shitiabai, a vocal youth in the county, is equally in hideout after he allegedly used fake academic papers to get employed as a public communication officer I in the governor’s Press team.
Minodi, who previously served as Savula’s PA while the DG was still the MP for Lugari, is also on the list for forging papers.
Investigations by Education News established that he had taken refuge to Uganda upon learning that he was being sought by the DCI for questioning.
“I am surprised that the guy does not have papers yet he always claimed that he had previously served as a teacher. He had already started frustrating us from receiving our allowances from the county for months now the same way he used to do when he was at Hon. Savula’s office at Parliament Buildings,” a close aide of the DG told Education News. He requested anonymity.
Minodi used to earn his salary from the Parliamentary Service Commission when he served as the MP’s PA.
Muka was employed as an assistant liaison officer while Amoi got hired as a public communications officer III in the Governor’s Press Unit, all allegedly using fake papers.
“Reference is made to letter Ref. KKCA/PSA/CRR/3/30 dated 30th March on the above subject matter that the academic certificates of Desterio Wanganya Okumu (Economic Advisor), Fred Muka Shiami (Assistant Chief Liaison Officer), Geoffrey Aligula Minodi (PA Deputy Governor), Thomas Omurunga Oyolo (Government Receptionist), Tariq Azizi Shitiabai (Public Communication Officer I) and Anderson Amunga Amoi (Public Communication Officer III) were found not to be genuine,” a letter from the Kakamega County Public Service Board to the County Assembly read in part.
The letter, dated Friday March 31, is signed by the Board’s Secretary Catherine Otenyo.
The County Assembly is currently probing alleged irregular employment and conducts of members of the service Board and employees in mainly the offices of the governor and his deputy.
By Denis Lumiti
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