MOMBASA: Anxiety has gripped employees at the Mombasa Port after Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) management indicated that close to 400 workers might have acquired employment using fake certificates.
The Standard has established that 400 employees of all cadres, and in all departments, were issued with letters on Friday demanding proof of their identity and education.
"We have been given 72 hours to 'show cause' why action should not be taken against us over the fake documents," said one of the employees.
They are expected to answer the charges by this morning according to officials within the port who asked not to be named. Action may be taken against them by Friday.
Monday, KPA Managing Director Francis Ndua admitted that the authority had ordered scrutiny of all employee certificates, but denied knowledge that the scrutiny has netted 400 suspect workers.
"It is true we are scrutinising documents of all employees and will take appropriate action if anybody is found to have presented a fake certificate," said Mr Ndua, who .
Sources at the port who confided to The Standard said some affected employees have already collected their letters from their superiors, while others are still lying in KPA's personnel department.
ALTERED DOCUMENTS
The letters were signed by KPA General Manager Personnel and Administration Salim Chigambwe.
Other reports indicate investigations were launched by the personnel department two years ago after a senior manager was discovered not to have sat for his 'O' level examination, but altered documents to show he had a Masters degree from the UK, raising questions about his educational background.
Dock Workers Union Secretary General Simon Sang admitted having heard about the allegations, but insisted KPA had not furnished him with any information regarding the matter.
"I can confirm that I have heard that some 400 workers are being accused of not having certificates, but I will verify the matter tomorrow," said Mr Sang.
KPA employs over 2700 workers at the Mombasa Port.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join