A quiet storm is raging within the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) after revelations of what insiders are calling one of the most brazen abuses of administrative power in recent public service history.
At the heart of the scandal is former Director-General Eng. Philemon Kandie, who is accused of secretly commissioning a certificate verification exercise in 2022 without approval from the Human Resources Department—and keeping the results hidden for nearly three years.
Multiple KeRRA insiders who spoke to CourtNews.co.ke described the covert operation as unconstitutional, irregular, and deeply personal, claiming it may have been used to target specific employees and settle old administrative grudges.
A Verification Process Shrouded in Secrecy
According to several senior officials, the former DG allegedly handpicked an external consultant to carry out the verification, bypassing all official procurement procedures and HR protocols.
“The HR Department was completely excluded,” said one senior official who requested anonymity. “Someone we didn’t know gained unrestricted access to confidential staff files without proper vetting or oversight.”
The Public Service Commission (PSC) Regulations (2020) require that all credential verification be conducted under the supervision of the Authorized Officer, usually the Head of HR. The Employment Act (2007) further mandates the protection of employee records and prohibits discrimination.
Legal experts say both laws appear to have been ignored.
Hidden Report, Missing Transparency
For three years—from 2022 to 2025—the report from the verification exercise reportedly remained locked in the DG’s office. It was never shared with the management board, HR department, or affected employees, according to multiple internal sources.
The timing of its resurfacing—just as Kandie exited office—has raised eyebrows.
“If this report was genuine, why hide it for years and only push for its implementation on your way out?” asked one staff representative.
The report’s sudden reappearance has triggered fears that personnel files were altered. Some employees now claim that their credentials, which had previously been verified, have mysteriously become “unverifiable.”
Staff Allege Targeted Victimization
Several employees allege that the report may have been manipulated to punish perceived rivals of the former DG.
“This wasn’t verification—it was vendetta,” said one worker. “People who disagreed with the DG are now being told their documents are invalid.”
If proven true, this could constitute a violation of Article 41(1) of Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees fair labour practices, and Section 46(h) of the Employment Act, which prohibits punitive administrative actions unrelated to job performance.
Legal Experts Warn of Actionable Violations
Employment law analysts who reviewed the allegations told CourtNews.co.ke that the described actions—if verified—could open the agency and individuals involved to litigation.
“Any verification exercise done outside proper HR procedure and with potential bias breaches both statutory and constitutional thresholds,” said one employment lawyer. “Affected staff could have strong grounds for legal redress.”
The PSC Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual (2023) and the Public Service (Values and Principles) Act (2015) both mandate transparency and accountability in all HR-related activities.
Staff Demand Fresh, Transparent Process
In an internal statement seen by CourtNews.co.ke, KeRRA employees have issued four clear demands:
-
Immediate nullification of the 2022 “Kandie Report.”
-
Formation of a new, transparent verification team led by HR.
-
Independent audit of the consultant’s work for possible file tampering.
-
Public disclosure of the methodology for any future verification exercises.
“We are not against accountability,” one representative said. “We simply want a fair, lawful process—not intimidation disguised as integrity.”
Five Key Questions Facing KeRRA
-
Why was HR excluded from the 2022 verification exercise?
-
Why was the report concealed for three years?
-
Were staff files tampered with or altered?
-
Why are PSC insiders allegedly pushing for validation of the report?
-
If the report was legitimate, why wasn’t it acted upon in 2022?
A Defining Test for KeRRA’s New Leadership
The incoming KeRRA Director-General now faces a defining decision—whether to discard the disputed report and order a new verification process under PSC guidelines, or risk legal and institutional backlash by implementing a tainted one.
Analysts warn that enforcing the controversial report could expose KeRRA to mass legal suits, industrial unrest, and reputational damage.
Efforts by CourtNews.co.ke to reach former DG Eng. Philemon Kandie for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
As Kenya’s public service watches closely, one question remains: Will KeRRA choose transparency—or repeat the mistakes of secrecy and score-settling?