NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 20 — Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo on Monday admitted that there could be approximately 500 to 1,000 ghost workers in his county.
Governor Nyaribo said the county is in the process of authenticating the figures and identifying legitimate employees. He said the county had outsourced a firm to conduct the audit.
“It is true we have not kept fiscal order in the country. There is already a process underway and we are making progress in terms of finding out how many are there but so far I can say between 500 to 1000 ghost workers who are being paid by the County,” Nyaribo said.
Nyaribo who appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts and Investments Commitee (CPAIC) to answer to audit queries was tasked to explain why 45 per cent of county revenue go to employee compensation.
“How can you be spending 45 per cent of your net revenue on emoluments and just 13 percent on development?” Commitee Chairperson Senator Moses Kajwang’ posed.
His sentiments we echoed by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni.
“Our neighbour Kisii County Governor exposed ghost workers who stood at 1500. Are you sure of the figures and how are these people employed?” he asked.
“It is clear that the County spends a lot on human resource but the services do not reflect the heavy human resource in the county,” Omogeni said.
Irregular recruitment
An Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) officer attached to the county also flagged irregular recruitment of employees in the county.
“The audit found out that there are many people who have irregularly been employed and this definitely leads to misuse of public funds,” the EACC officer said.
The Senator Kajwang-led committee labelled Governor Nyaribo as being “fiscally irresponsible.”
The committee asked the county chief to send a report to the committee indicating the exact figure of the ghost workers in the county and the measures he intends to take to resolve the issue.
“You are fiscally irresponsible Governor Nyaribo. You are only supposed to spend a maximum of 35 per cent on wage bill but your county spent 45 percent at the expense of development. This has to change,” Kajwang said.
The Public Finance Management Act dictates that County Governments shall channel at least 30 per cent of their total revenue to development projects.
The situation in Nyamira is reflected in virtually all the counties.
