Nairobi: Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has directed all government procurement officers to step down to allow fresh wetting by polygraph (a lie detector test). But even as the president vouches for the devices to aid the vetting of top government officials, psychologists are sceptical of their ability to produce actionable results. Kenyatta has directed that all heads of procurement and accounts in government ministries, departments and agencies will undergo fresh vetting, including polygraph testing to determine their integrity and suitability. Those who fail the vetting will stand suspended, said Kenyatta last week. Experts says that since the machines are made to test human conditions which can never be the same for everyone, those who study the human mind believe polygraphs should be treated with a pinch of salt.
James Mbugua, a psychology lecturer, says scientific research has proven that testing by the gadgets can be influenced by many external factors. “Subjecting civil servants to the tests and sacking them on the outcome of the tests will open the government to legal suits,” he says. He says that the machines may give lawyers various points of argument, wondering whether polygraph tests are admissible in court. “Let’s rethink on tightening systems to safeguard the Kenyan taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” he says.
Maryanne Njihia, another psychologist says the metrics tested by polygraph machines can vary because they focus on body functions that can be “as a result of other underlying issues which are unrelated to the issue at hand. Moreover, there’s no evidence that any pattern of physiological reactions is unique to deceptions,” she adds. However, she observes that the use of the machines may make some people confess wrongdoing. “They can deter undesired activity as well as instill public confidence. I would suggest that the machine to be used together with other aides like use of psychologists,” she reasons.
Joining the list of those opposed to the polygraph machines is Kwame Owino, the chief executive Officer of the Institute of Economic Affairs. On social media, opinions have been flying on whether to use polygraph machines. While some are already predicting a polygraph procurement scandal ahead, others have been “educating” Kenyans on how to pass the machine’s test.
