Concerns are growing over the ongoing healthcare recruitment process in Mombasa County after claims emerged that some successful candidates may have already undergone induction and orientation before the official application deadline was reached.
The recruitment, which was publicly advertised by the Mombasa County Public Service Board, included positions for nurses, medical officers, physiotherapists, and other healthcare workers. According to the advert, applications were expected to close on Monday, May 26, 2026. However, several applicants are now questioning the credibility of the process after reports surfaced that some newly recruited nurses had already been introduced to the system even before shortlisting and interviews were officially conducted.
The allegations have caused frustration among many qualified healthcare workers who had submitted applications in the hope of securing employment opportunities through a fair and transparent process.
Some now fear that the recruitment exercise may have been predetermined, leaving deserving candidates with little chance of being considered.
The situation has reportedly hit volunteers at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital particularly hard. Many of them have spent months working at the facility, some without pay, hoping that their dedication and experience would improve their chances of securing permanent employment when vacancies became available. Instead, they now feel sidelined and disappointed after hearing claims that outsiders may have already been selected before the process was completed.
There are also troubling allegations circulating among healthcare workers that some employment letters are allegedly being sold at extremely high prices. Claims have emerged that individuals seeking county jobs are being asked to pay up to KSh 150,000 to secure positions.
For many young healthcare professionals, the reports have badly affected morale. Some feel that merit, qualifications, and volunteer service no longer matter if recruitment decisions are made behind closed doors.
Many applicants are now demanding clarity from the county government and the Public Service Board. They want answers on how inductions and orientations could allegedly take place before interviews and shortlisting were completed.
Others are calling for investigations into the recruitment exercise to restore public trust and ensure fairness for all applicants.
