Fresh allegations have emerged pointing to serious irregularities in the recent recruitment process at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), with insiders claiming that advertised vacancies were largely a formality meant to regularize individuals who had already been placed within the institution through unofficial channels.
According to sources familiar with internal systems, the positions publicly announced in November 2025 may not have reflected the true nature of the hiring exercise that followed.
Information shared by individuals with direct knowledge of the matter indicates that interviews conducted on January 26, 27 and 28, 2026, were preceded by a shortlisting process that had already been influenced.
It is alleged that many of those shortlisted had previously been entered into the payroll as casual workers without undergoing open application procedures or competitive interviews.
Some of these individuals were reportedly in the system even before the public advertisement was made.
Sources who spoke anonymously claim that the November advertisement was intended to formalize earlier backdoor entries. They allege that while about 20 positions were officially advertised, the final number of individuals absorbed into the institution far exceeded that figure.
According to the claims, more than 100 people may have ultimately secured employment, including 71 who were allegedly already working under casual arrangements.
The allegations further suggest that the shortlisting committee populated interview lists with relatives of senior managers and board members.
This, insiders claim, reduced what should have been a competitive process into what they describe as an internal arrangement, where external applicants stood little chance of success despite spending money and time attending interviews.
It is also alleged that when dissatisfaction arose among staff whose relatives had not been included in the first intake, another round of interviews was quickly organized for about 20 additional candidates.
These candidates, who were reportedly not part of the original shortlist, are said to have received appointment letters shortly after the interviews.
According to the sources, none of them failed in that round, raising further concerns about the integrity of the criteria applied.
Whistleblowers are now calling for investigations by oversight bodies including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Office of the Auditor-General and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
They argue that public institutions funded by taxpayers must uphold transparency, merit and fairness as required under Article 10 and Article 232 of the Constitution, as well as the leadership standards under Chapter Six.
Those raising the alarm are urging investigators to examine payroll records, interview minutes, shortlisting criteria, board approvals and internal correspondence to determine whether the recruitment process aligned with the advertised vacancies.
They maintain that failure to act would reinforce a culture where public positions are treated as private entitlements, locking out qualified Kenyans and weakening trust in state institutions.
Below is the omessage shared by one of the whistleblowers:
”Hello Cyprian. Kuna hii parastatal inajiita Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). Help me expose it until ijulikane. Inaoperate kama a family. The whole management ni scam kuanzia kwa BOARD. Kuna zile advertisement walifanya last year hapo November. You know what they did, bro I was there kwa system na vitu niliona ni maajabu sana. Imagine shortlisting ilifanywa yaani ilikuwa tu for formalities. Like shortlisting committee iliweka tu familia zao (sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, wife and husband) na kama ulijipata hapo basi wewe ndio ulikuwa unatumika kujaza watu in which hungepita interview.
Nilikuwa nawaona nawahurumia tu juu ni fare na time yao walikuwa wameharibu. Hiyo interview was scheduled on 26, 27 na 28th January mind you tena most of the people shortlisted ni watu walikuwa wamewekwa kwa system before in the name ya casual.
Walikuwa 71 which most of them waliingia na backdoor. No interview, No application. Mtu anacheza tu na director anamwambia mtoto wake ameshinda amekaa tu home then anaingiza kwa system analipwa na tax yetu. Sasa kuweka hiyo interview director alijua wasee mob wamewekwa na backdoor inaweza mletea noma akaamua kuwasimamisha ndio maana aliadvertise ndio sasa awarudishe officially na watoto wa staff wengine ambao walikuwa wameanza kulalamika.
Guess what wote 71 walirudishwa system plus sasa wengine more than 20. Imagine waliadvertise 20 positions but waliend up kuemploy more than 100. Unaona hiyo red flag. Sasa funny thing ni staff wengine kurealize vitu huyu jamaa anafanya na some members wa hiyo board noma ingine ikatokea, kiliumana juu staff wengine pia walirealize watoto wao hawakuchukuliwa wakataka advantage. Na juu huyo director ni muoga hapendi shida hee huskii interview nyingine ikawekwa tena mind you hawa ni watu sasa hawakuwa shortlisted kwa ile main shortlisting. Sasa hapa tena ikawa unaletwa na nani? Mambo za familia tena ama ucheze na doo. Sasa tena 20 people wakaitwa interview. Hapa wote walipita wakatumiwa barua chap chap before Sat. Red flag ingine hakuna mwenye alifail kwa hii squad. Sasa umeona penye formalities zinatokea. Na kila kitu wakabackdate i-fit plan yao. Hee Kenya iko corrupt msee. Ile institute kila mtu ameweka mtoto wake ama bibi yake kwanza kwa top management. Yaani ukienda ni familia tu. Kuna list nitakutumia wenye najua personally mind wenye wameweka watoto wao tuwaexpose. Then pia mtu anaweza dhani hii story ni scam kuna hiyo list ya hao watu wakienda interview yenye tulikuwa tunatumia kuwaingiza interview room. Iko hapo hadi ya the special group wa 10th pia. Wacha Wakenya wajue bila connection parastatal hutoboi ni scam wasikue wanasumbukana kuapply hizi huwa tu for formalities. Huko lazima uwe na baba, mama ama relative.”
