Waiguru's consultants at Devolution ministry anxious as Kiunjuri takes over
What you need to know:
Earlier in the year, there were reports that The Consulting House had been paid Sh38.9 million for consultancy services for the implementation of the NYS 5-point Vision strategy.
Around the same time, Transcend Media was said to have received Sh161 million for publicity and rollout of NYS rebranding.
Another firm IMG led by Charles Gacheru has also been at the forefront in managing the ministry’s image.
An audit at the ministry indicated that the ministry was using as much amount of money to pay the temporary/contracted staff as that used on salaries of the permanent civil servants
The departure of Anne Waiguru from the helm of the Devolution and Planning ministry three weeks ago left many “orphans” staring at possible joblessness.
A number of them, mostly consultants she brought on board have left their offices in anticipation that the Cabinet Secretary nominee Mwangi Kiunjuri expected to succeed her may come in with his own staff.
A spot check by the Sunday Nation at the 10th floor offices on Harambee House which are usually a beehive of activity has fallen silent as those whose employment contracts are about to expire hold on to hope that Mr Kiunjuri will renew them.
According to our sources, some of these employees have started reaching out to Mr Kiunjuri even before he is confirmed the CS.
MUTAHI NGUNYI
Publicity firm Transcend Media associated with one time comedian-cum politician John ‘KJ’ Kiarie and political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi’s Consulting House are some of the consultants who had been working with Ms Waiguru.
Earlier in the year, there were reports that The Consulting House had been paid Sh38.9 million for consultancy services for the implementation of the NYS 5-point Vision strategy.
Mr Ngunyi did not deny the report, only citing that the story was under-representing the worth of his company.
Around the same time, Transcend Media was said to have received Sh161 million for publicity and rollout of NYS rebranding.
Another firm IMG led by Charles Gacheru has also been at the forefront in managing the ministry’s image.
It remains to be seen if Mr Kiunjuri, should he weather vetting by the National Assembly, will retain their services.
Although the number is not clear since the ministry has not been free to talk about the subject in the past, Ms Waiguru had a coterie of advisors and consultants.
Mr Browne Kutswa, the Director of Communications at the ministry could not immediately tell the number of consultants when contacted by the Sunday Nation.
TEMPORARY STAFF
An audit at the ministry indicated that the ministry was using as much amount of money to pay the temporary/contracted staff as that used on salaries of the permanent civil servants who are more.
But some of the civil servants at the ministry are happy with the appointment of a new cabinet secretary and are hopeful of a good working environment.
The civil servants claim Ms Waiguru hired individuals from the private sector with limited hands-on experience and offered them attractive packages denying them the chance of moving up the job groups.
Mr Kutswa told the Sunday Nation that the slicing of Public Service, Youth and Affairs from the Devolution and Planning ministry has meant that some consultants under the former giant ministry may move to the new docket.
“Much as I am not aware of any exodus, there is a general re-organisation in government,” he said.
He further said that the said consultants have contracts and can only leave when their contracts expire but not when a CS resigns.
“They were not working for an individual but for the government,” he said.
The splitting of the giant ministry means that there will be a corresponding split of the budget which is Sh93 billion.
Meanwhile, the ongoing investigation at the ministry to establish the veracity of the reports of loss of funds has also meant that no payments can be made or approved for any projects further reducing traffic to the offices.
