Governors back audit of workers in public service

Governors have declared their support for the public service staff audit that could lead to job losses in counties.

The audit, which was launched by the national government, is aimed at improving efficiency and reducing wage bills in the devolved governments.

The Council of Governors on Friday launched the drive, but all the counties will simultaneously begin the registration on September 22.

Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto said the audit would enable counties to solve the problem of ghost workers once for all.

Most of the workers were inherited from the defunct local authorities, where staff were employed due to political connection and most names in the payroll were of non-existent individuals.

“All we are saying is that staff must come physically for registration,” Mr Ruto said after a meeting in Nairobi.

“Why would one fail to come we see their faces. We want to match those on the payroll and their faces.”

COMPETENCY MEASURED

The council’s Human Resources Committee chairman, Governor James Ongwae (Kisii), said the county bosses supported the audit — Capacity Assessment and Rationalisation of the Public Service — because it was meant to measure human resource capacities and competencies.

“The audit will also establish current and future skills required to perform assigned functions,” he said.

In addition, assessment of biometric information would enable the governments to determine the authenticity of their employees, according to the governor.

County governments will conduct the audit in conjunction with the Devolution ministry and the Transitional Authority.

HUMAN LABOUR REDUCTION

It is expected to reduce the work force by more than 30 per cent, according to a senior official at the ministry.

Staff will be required to produce their identification cards, their first and subsequent appointment letters, and academic certificates.

Mr Ruto said one of the outcomes of the audit would be ease of staff movement across counties or from the regions to the national government and vice versa.

The Council of Governors chairman was accompanied by Mr Ongwae, Meru Governor Peter Munya, Siaya’s Cornel Rasanga and Kakamega’s Wycliffe Oparanya.

Nairobi County has already launched the registration and is expected to send home about 2,000 workers.

Most of the employees, an earlier audit showed, are either dead, living abroad or were earning two salaries and did not have work stations.

Mr Ruto used the meeting of more than 30 governors to reassert that the council would continue to push for a referendum because their meeting with the President at State House was not successful.