A human resource audit addressing payroll fraud in Nandi has been presented to the county assembly amid concerns among employees about a potential salary freeze. This audit is part of an effort to address the illegal hiring of over 1,000 workers.
Majority Leader Walter Teno (Kabiyet MCA) introduced the report, highlighting the county’s significant wage bill crisis that necessitates immediate action from the assembly. The report was submitted by Governor Stephen Sang, who aims to resolve the payroll issues to secure the necessary funds for ongoing development projects.
“We are taking this matter very seriously,” Teno stated. “The assembly will collaborate with the governor and other leaders to find solutions to these pressing issues.”
The assembly is scheduled to debate the report this week and propose measures to reform the county’s hiring and payroll processes.
The audit revealed that more than 1,000 employees were hired illegally and might face job losses. It also uncovered a massive payroll scam that inflated the county’s wage bill to over 65% of the budget.
Two weeks ago, Governor Sang suspended several payroll officers pending investigations into irregularities within the payroll management system, which had led to an increase in the workforce to 4,430 employees. The suspended officers have already given statements to the DCI.
Some employees have expressed concern about a potential salary freeze while the county works on streamlining the payroll. Governor Sang has directed that only regularly hired staff will be paid and that those who obtained money through fraudulent means must repay it.
The county’s workforce should not exceed 3,000 employees. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has previously questioned the irregular hiring practices that led to the excess.
Sang’s actions followed a comprehensive audit by a Public Service Commission technical team. The audit found that members of the Nandi County Public Service Board and the payroll unit colluded to issue fake appointment letters, which were then incorporated into the payroll system.
The audit also identified fraudulent practices, including the issuance of fake certificates and unjustified promotions, leading to significant discrepancies in job placements. For example, some employees experienced rapid job group advancements without proper justification. Many of those hired irregularly were found to be cronies or relatives of senior county officials.
The audit also highlighted issues such as overcrowding in county offices, with one room in the ICT office accommodating up to 18 employees using a single desktop computer. Many hired individuals lacked clear job descriptions and were reportedly assigned roles as “social media warriors” to defend certain county officials online.
In one notable case, a senior individual had eight relatives, including three brothers and a sister, employed through irregular means.
Governor Sang has pledged to fully implement the PSC’s recommendations to ensure the responsible use of public resources and control the excessive wage bill. This commitment aligns with the guidelines from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission presented at the Third National Wage Bill Conference in April.
As investigations continue, it has emerged that some irregular hires “purchased” their jobs with bribes of up to Sh400,000. Sang has urged all affected individuals with fraudulent appointment letters to visit the complaints desk in their departments to clarify their circumstances.
“We will fully implement this report, and anyone involved in this flawed process will face consequences,” Sang declared. He emphasized that all departments with irregular appointment letters have been removed from the payroll, addressing disparities and impunity that occurred during this period.
