KENYA
The Kenyan Government is to appoint an independent consulting firm to work with the Public Service Commission (PSC) to vet officers targeted in the war on corruption.
Kenyan media reports said the firm would conduct polygraph tests on the procurement and accounting officers of Agencies, Departments and state-run companies.
The PSC, the statutory body that employees PS staff, was expected to play a logistical role as the consultant handled the technical aspect, the reports said.
The firm would draw up a schedule of interviews, starting with the already affected officers heading procurement and accounting units in the Public Service, to be completed by the end of the month.
The officers targeted in the first batch were estimated to number 1,000.
Acting Government Spokesperson, Mwenda Njoka (pictured) refused to confirm the details.
“The Government will give an update at the appropriate time, which is not today,” Mr Njoka said in a text message to journalists.
“Kindly hold your horses for now.”
However, a source at the Office of the Presidency said the Government was keen on using a consultant.
“PSC has been asked to identify a firm with the capacity to use lie detectors,” the unidentified source said.
“Already PSC has put up a team of officers to receive documents from affected offices.”
Earlier, Head of the Public Service, Joseph Kinyua sent out a memo asking the officers to step aside for a month to pave the way for the vetting.
It is reported they will be asked to produce ID cards, driver’s licences and passport numbers, email addresses, mobile phone numbers, as well certified copies of bank statements, including those of their spouses, for the past six months.
Nairobi, 12 June 2018
