Pay for 12,000 public service ghost workers stopped

The team is lead by Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru and Council of Governors Social Welfare Committee chairman James Ongwae/FILE

The Inter-Governmental Steering Committee (IGSC) which met on Monday said 160,012 employees out of the expected 172,522 showed up with their supporting papers, which included identification documents, appointment letters and education certificates.

“As a way forward, the Inter-Governmental Steering Committee has deliberated and directed the two levels of government to stop salaries of the 12,510 who have failed to show up for the exercise with immediate effect,” a statement issued by IGSC after receiving the Capacity Assessment and Rationalisation of the Public Service (CARPS) report said.

The team is led by Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru and Council of Governors Social Welfare Committee chairman James Ongwae.

During the exercise, listed workers were given a special certificate that contains their personal details, a passport photograph, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN number and details of professional qualifications.

The committee has also directed the retirement of workers who are above 60 years and not on contract or are State officers.

“The committee noted the existence of officers above 60 years who are not on contract or State Officers and directed that they be retired in line with their terms of service,” the committee said.

CARPS was launched in September by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Council of Governors in efforts to get rid of ghost workers.

“As you are aware, the biometric exercise is part of the wider CARPS programme which includes the institutional review to determine “organisational structure, workload analysis, optimal staffing levels and skills and competences in the national and county governments.”

The team says the process will be ongoing in both levels of governments and will continue with periodic briefing.

Seven hundred government officials had been trained to assist on the exercise at both the national and county level.

About The Author

MARGARET WAHITO

Margaret has been a business reporter for the past four years. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Communications and Public Relations from Moi University. She also holds a diploma in Film and Video production from the Kenya institute of Mass Communications. Apart from journalism, she has interest in community work, especially helping the disadvantaged.

See author's posts