You’ll wait longer for salaries, Lamu County staff told

Lamu County Secretary John Mburu, who has announced that staff salaries for November will be delayed due to failure by the national government to disburse funds to the county. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mburu said Lamu is among the few counties that have ensured their staff are paid their salaries on time.
  • He urged the county employees to remain patient as the issues are being resolved.

The Lamu County government has announced a delay in payment of November salaries for all the 1,010 employees.

In a memo dated December 3, 2019 and which has been seen by the Nation, Lamu County Secretary John Mburu said the delay is due to failure by the national government to disburse funds to the county.

"Your attention is drawn to the delay in approval of salaries by the Office of Controller of Budget, which has affected the timely disbursement of funds to counties by the national government. Due to the prevailing situation, it is anticipated that November 2019 salaries will not be paid in good time. We therefore urge all our employees to remain patient as the issues are being resolved,” read the letter copied to Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha and all chief officers in the county.

PAID ON TIME

Speaking to the Nation in Lamu, Mr Mburu defended the county, saying Lamu is among the few counties which have ensured their staff are paid their salaries on time.

He attributed the current stalemate to the national government’s delay in the appointment of a substantive Controller of Budget.

“Despite the challenges that have frequently been witnessed in terms of funds disbursement to counties from the national government, Lamu is among the very few unique counties that have ensured staff salaries are paid by the 30th of every month. That’s why we haven’t experienced any kind of strike by our county workers unlike other counties. The current problem has affected every county and it’s not Lamu alone. I appeal tour staff to be patient,” said Mr Mburu.