Civil servants’ July pay delayed

A payroll hitch caused by the recent reorganisation in government resulted in a delay in most civil servants’ July salaries.

Only civil servants with accounts at banks that post-pay their customers had received their salaries on Tuesday even as National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich tried to allay fears the delay could be longer.

“There is really no serious delay. If there is any, it could be because we have been working on making the payroll better. Those affected are government workers in devolved functions,” Mr Rotich told the Nation.

Delays in the appointment of chief officers for various ministries had also disrupted formalities normally undertaken before payrolls are authorised, often by 14th day of the month.

Civil servants appear unconvinced by Mr Rotich’s assurance. “We are normally paid by the 25th. We are very worried why it is taking so long,” said a worker at the Devolution ministry.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary for Health James Macharia on Tuesday defused a row between doctors and the Government by assuring the medics they would be paid on time.

Mr Macharia appealed to doctors not to panic over their salaries, saying the month was not over yet. “Their is no problem as all arrangements have been made and nobody will miss their pay,” Mr Macharia told the Nation.

On Monday, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) secretary-general Sultani Matendechero warned that doctors planned to travel to Nairobi on August 5 for clarification on the delay of their July salaries.

The union advised the public to make alternative arrangements for medical care between August 3 and 6.

Dr Matendechero told a Press conference that the confusion was due to a bid to hurriedly transfer salary payments to county governments.

“We want to caution those who are behind such ill-advised plans that no means shall be spared in defeating the illegal and unconstitutional process they are planning,” he said.