Panic at KPA as staff with fake certificates named

Panic has gripped top, middle and low level employees at the Kenya Ports Authority after the management stepped up investigations into the academic qualifications of hundreds of workers.

It is alleged that many workers are suspected to be holding fake certificates, which they used to acquire employment and gain promotion.

The Standard has established that KPA has prepared a report on 136 workers, but is yet to call in the police.

The purge began following the vetting process of the port’s estimated 2,600 workers.

Reports indicate that the original list of employees from all the departments, including managers was over 400 but it was whittled down after internal investigations that began when the authority wrote to the affected workers asking them to verify the authenticity of their certificates.

Yesterday, KPA top managers were holed up in meetings, apparently discussing the apparent scandal and remained cagey about the full extent of the rot.

At the root of rot is political interference in the port management where successive managers were forced to hire people under pressure even when they had no academic or professional qualifications.

Many of the low cadre workers netted in the dragnet were employed in 2011, according to port sources which have also indicated that at least two managers in the finance and harbour departments are victims.

Internal investigation

Although the police are believed to be preparing to start investigation into the scandal, the Dock Workers Union, which represents at least 136 workers wants them to be demoted but pardoned.

County Police Commander Robert Kitur told The Standard that they expect KPA to hand over a report of its findings to CID officers for further investigation.

“I think they will hand over the files to us, because it is police who have to verify documents, which have been forged,” said Mr Kitur who disclosed that KPA had not, formally, handed its internal report to the police.

Kitur further said all the affected workers will be summoned for interrogation and charged if criminal evidence is found against them.

“We will want to verify the certificates and if it is proved that they forged the documents in question, then that becomes a criminal offense, which is punishable by law,” said Kitur, as it emerged that KPA’s management had appointed a committee to give the workers opportunity to defend themselves against the accusations.

Last week, KPA Human Resource and Administration General Manager Salim Chigamba wrote to hundreds of employees asking them to answer to claims that they were illegally employed or promoted on fake certificates and documents.

And yesterday he said that 136 had been given letters to show cause why they should not be disciplined. They, however, declined to defend themselves.

The Standard has also established that the first victim of the purge  against dubious qualifications was a senior manager based in KPA’s offices in Uganda.

The manager, whom we cannot named for legal reasons, was sacked last year after he failed to explain how he acquired a Masters degree in Communication without sitting for his secondary education.

Top managers

The purge, which is being spearheaded by Mr Chigamba began last year and has left suspected culprits in limbo after they received new orders asking them to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Urban police station.

KPA Public Relations Manager Benard Osero said he was aware of the letters asking employees to ascertain their qualifications but could not state if there were any managers among them.

“It is difficult to ascertain who are the ones affected because this is a case involving an individual with his employer” said Mr Osero.

Dock Workers Union Secretary General Simon Sang said the union had written on behalf of the workers seeking personal hearing before a decision to sack them can be made.

“136 workers who are my members have been given letters to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for presenting fake certificates, which made them to be promoted,” said Mr Sang who claimed he was negotiating with KPA for a pardon of suspects.

Sang said those who were promoted on false papers should be demoted and allowed to remain in employment.

It is suspected that the intervention by the union led to the formation of an internal committee to listen to each case.

He said he was negotiating with KPA management to pardon the workers who presented fake certificates for promotion, and only be demoted to the position they were before.

“We received a report that some of my members presented fake certificates and were promoted but they have asked for forgiveness and accepted to be demoted,” said Sang.

Among senior managers affected include one at Conventional Cargo and Finance Department where they have been drawing millions of money illegally as salary increment they did not deserve for over 10 years.