EACC probing conflict of interest in Garissa public service board

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is carrying out an inquiry into allegations of conflict of interest at the Garissa County Public Service Board.

In a letter addressed to the secretary/CEO of the Garissa County Public Service Board, EACC is seeking to be furnished with certified copies of 31 officers.

The officers in question from the cadres of directors, Administrators, Drivers, Human Resource officers, Religious Officers and clerks among others.

EACC further seeks a copy of the personal files of Boards chairperson  Ebla Europe Sahal, Mohamed Sheik Abdi, Amal Ahmed Farah and Adey Hassan Kaar.

In the letter, the EACC further requested the copies of advertisement, list of applicants, shortlisted candidates, interview scoresheets, and list of persons recommended for appointment in the positions of the 31 officers under investigation.

Consequently, the commission seeks to have payslips in respect of Adey Hassan Kaar and Amal Ahmed Farah and any other document that may assist in the investigations.

According to the letter, the officers should have recorded statements on or before April  8, this year.

An official from EACC who spoke in confidence acknowledged that indeed they were investigating officials from the board. He however did not give more details.

"It is true that we wrote to the board asking to be furnished with the details mentioned therein. I would wish to comment on it since it is a matter in court. But in the fullness of time we will get to know the truth," he said.

Contacted on phone, the board chair Ebla Sahal acknowledged receipt of the letter, however, she said the matter is being handled by her lawyer since the matter is still in court.

“My lawyer is dealing with that. He has written to the EACC telling them that the matter cannot be concurrently investigated since it is in court,” he said.

In November last year, an audit carried out showed that the county hired directors and their deputies who did not have the mandatory academic papers to head the dockets.

Also, 1oo people were hired as drivers yet there are only 12 vehicles in the county transport department.

Making the findings, Garissa Governor Nathif Jama regretted that the county had been turned into a recruitment bureau which has contributed to it lagging behind in terms of providing essential services to residents.

The governor said 3,500 people have been earning salaries both in the IPPD and in Excel sheet payments for casual workers.

“Close to 7,000 staff are earning salaries both in the official salary system and in the excel sheets, where payments of hundreds if not thousands of casuals are processed," he said.

“The county was paying close to Sh450 million per month from the monthly exchequer and our wage bill was around 70 per cent, which is way above the legal requirement of 35 per cent under the PFM act," the governor said at the time.