Former NTSA chief vows to tackle fake papers, ghost workers if appointed to PSC

Former National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) Director General, Francis Mejja, has promised to take decisive action on the issues of fake academic qualifications and ghost workers in the public sector, should he be approved for the Public Service Commission (PSC) position.

During a vetting session before the National Assembly Labor Committee on Thursday, Mejja outlined his plans to modernise and streamline recruitment processes, ensuring that integrity and transparency take centre stage.

"I believe the issues of inflated wage bills, fake academic papers, and ghost workers have been allowed to persist for too long," Mejja said.

"We have the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) database, so why not integrate this with the PSC system? We shouldn't have to wait to verify and certify documents when they are easily accessible."

Mejja further criticised the current public service verification system, which he said only checks academic papers intermittently.

He argued that such checks should be done at the point of application, using a digitized system that can immediately flag fraudulent documents.

"By interfacing with these systems, we can disqualify candidates with fake documents right from the start. This has been a costly oversight and must come to an end," Mejja added.

The former NTSA boss also took aim at the issue of ghost workers, explaining that poor accountability is the root cause.

"Ghost workers don't exist in the private sector. Every position in the public sector must be accountable, and under my leadership, this will not be tolerated," he vowed.

The former NTSA boss who also once considered running for the Kajiado gubernatorial seat, added that the automation of the public recruitment system is long overdue.

He pointed out that applicants should not have to wait for months to receive results.

"It's unacceptable for someone to wait six months just to hear that they were unsuccessful. We must automate recruitment processes to save time and resources," he argued.

During the vetting session, other nominees for positions within the Public Service Commission also echoed similar concerns.

They identified the issues of fake certificates, ghost workers, and corruption as major obstacles to the efficiency and integrity of the public service.

Recruitment systems

The nominees, who include candidates for Vice Chairperson and other PSC roles, have promised to implement rigorous recruitment systems based on merit if they are approved.

They have pledged to introduce tough measures to address fraudulent qualifications and ensure that public sector employment is based on skill and merit, not nepotism or corruption.

The issue of corruption in the public service was also raised by the nominees, who emphasized the need for a shift towards transparency.

"We must foster a culture of integrity and transparency to reduce corruption and inefficiency," one nominee said.

Additionally, the nominees proposed a reevaluation of roles within the public service to eliminate duplications and better allocate resources.

"It is crucial to continuously reassess and realign roles to ensure efficiency," said Mary Kimonye, Vice Chairperson nominee.

Runyenjes MP Karemba Muchangi, the chair of the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Labour, urged the nominees to focus on reforms that would restore public trust in the PSC.

"The public has a negative perception of the commission, and the new leadership must work to rebuild that trust," he said.

The nominees also highlighted the importance of the PSC Internship Program, which they described as a critical tool for helping graduates gain practical skills and improve their employability.

Should they be confirmed, the nominees have vowed to uphold the values of honesty, integrity, and efficiency, ensuring that the public service delivers the high-quality service the people of Kenya deserve.

The Labour Committee is expected to present its report to the House for final approval of the nominees.