The Coast Water Works Development Agency (CWWDA) is currently at the center of a growing controversy over allegations of bribery and extortion in its recruitment process.
The agency had advertised 12 positions, inviting applications from competent candidates across Kenya.
However, investigations reveal that the process may have been tainted by corruption, raising questions about the agency’s integrity.
Reports indicate that at least 25 applicants were allegedly coerced into paying large sums of money, with some being manipulated into parting with up to Ksh 350,000 for job placements.
It is alleged that senior officials within the agency, including the Human Resource Department led by Simon Menza Charoh, were involved in selling these positions.
The money collected is said to have been shared among select individuals within the agency, turning what should have been a fair recruitment process into a money-making scheme.
Some applicants described the officials as “heartless,” accusing them of toying with their hopes even though the job outcomes had reportedly already been decided.
A source revealed that the positions were essentially being auctioned to those who could afford to pay, while genuinely qualified candidates were left out in the cold.
Despite attempts by some of these officials to evade accountability, at least one victim is considering legal action and is willing to testify.
Others have called for investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
They demand that the agency’s board, led by Chairman David Katama Mwaringa and the Chief Executive Officer, be held accountable for allegedly fostering impunity.
The advertised positions included roles such as Deputy Director of Corporate Communications, Senior Corporate Communications Officer, Principal Information Communication Technology Officer, Laboratory Technician, Senior Office Administrator, Pump Operator, and Inspectors for Electrical and Mechanical maintenance.
Each of these roles carries significant responsibilities, including water treatment, machine maintenance, and information technology system development.
Additionally, vacancies for Mechanical Engineers, Drivers, Water Treatment Specialists, and a Human Resource and Administration Manager were listed.
These roles are critical to ensuring the smooth operation of the agency, which serves six coastal counties: Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Taita Taveta.
This scandal has cast a shadow over the agency, which was established in 2019 under the Water Act, 2016.
Reports against Simon Menza Charoh and Head of Procurement Stanlus Jira are not new, as both have previously faced accusations of corruption.
