RE: EDUCATION MINISTRY IS CENSURED OVER TEACHERS' RECRUITMENT IN MIGORI BY LEO ODERA OMOLO

It was gratifying to note that the government was reprimanded by the four MPs from Migori district following the recently concluded primary school teachers’ recruitment there, an exercise found wanting and full of irregularities. It was incumbent on the DEO’s officers to follow the laid down recruitment procedures but because they did not, it was only fair to the failed recruits, that their grievances were taken up by their elected representatives.

Corruption takes many forms and this is not the first time that am hearing such an orgy has taken place. The only difference is that the people understood the requirements for the exercise and knew their rights. During police and teachers recruitment exercises, the recruits are always asked to go back to their districts of birth, so it defies logic that officers in charge of recruitment of teachers this time round could blatantly ignore the basic rules and allow others from outside Migori district to take the interview.

These leaders deserve credit for standing up for the interests of their voters and it would be very good news if that irregularity was henceforth reversed and the locals got their places. But could it be a reflection of what transpired in other districts following the same exercise? May be we will never know the truth of what happened in these other districts unless the people and their leaders pick the courage to scrutinise and analyse the outcome of the process.

If it is found that the DEO was aware of this anomaly and never took any corrective measures before the local leaders raised the matter with the ministry, then the DEO’s office would be complicit. This would be either a complete dereliction of duty or utter display of incompetence and disregard for the interests of the people he is meant to serve. Such civil servants need to be re-trained or redeployed. Bravo to the MPs and Mr Leo Odera Omollo for reporting the matter. I hope other leaders will also follow with interest recruitment exercises in their districts so that such irregularities can become less common.

Regards
Dickson Aduonga