Nandi County Governor Stephen Sang has confirmed the dismissal of over 1,100 employees who were hired illegally. These workers, who had been on the county’s payroll for the past six years, earned a staggering Sh2 billion, significantly pushing the county’s wage bill beyond sustainable levels.
The decision to sack the employees comes after a human resource audit by the Public Service Commission (PSC) revealed a widespread scam within the county’s payroll system. Many of those employed illegally were found to be cronies and relatives of top county officials, securing jobs through fraudulent means. Governor Sang emphasized that all employment letters issued irregularly would be revoked, and the affected workers would no longer receive salaries from this month.
“We have begun implementing the report from the audit, and those affected will be informed according to the laid-down regulations,” Sang said. He further clarified that the audit was initiated at his request, reflecting his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Human Resource Audit Unveils Major Payroll Scam
The audit report revealed various forms of misconduct, including the illegal issuance of employment letters in collusion with the County Public Service Board and payroll unit. Some employees used fake documents, including forged academic certificates, to secure positions, while others benefitted from questionable promotions and irregular job placements. In some extreme cases, individuals were promoted by four job groups within two years without any merit, while others remained in the same job group for over eight years without promotion.
These practices contravened the recommendations of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which called for a more structured and transparent approach to employee management during the Third National Wage Bill Conference in April. The audit found that the irregularities not only inflated the county’s workforce to over 4,430 employees—far above the recommended cap of 3,000—but also pushed the wage bill to more than 75 percent of the county’s total expenditure, leaving minimal funds for critical development projects.
Governor’s Response and Clarifications
Governor Sang has been quick to act on the findings, suspending several payroll officers implicated in the scam to allow for further investigations. He also confirmed that some of those hired irregularly paid bribes of up to Sh400,000 to secure their jobs, further deepening the crisis.
In response to rumors circulating that 1,800 employees would be affected by the purge, Sang disowned the document in question, labeling it as inauthentic. He stressed that personal staff information is protected by law and that any communication regarding employment status would be done directly with the individuals involved. He also warned against the unauthorized dissemination of personal data, stating that anyone found guilty of such an offense would face legal consequences.
“Those generating, manipulating, and sharing individual personal data and information relating to staff or individuals are liable to committing offenses provided by the law,” he said.
A Step Towards Accountability and Reform
Governor Sang reassured the remaining county employees that there would be no general freeze on salaries and that the payroll purge would only target those whose names were irregularly entered into the system. “This decision will be implemented by ensuring that the affected individuals will have their names expunged from the payroll and therefore no salary will be paid accordingly,” he stated.
The governor expressed his determination to fully implement the audit report’s recommendations, including taking legal action against anyone found to have played a role in the fraudulent hiring process. A complaints desk has been set up in each county department to allow those affected to explain their cases.
A History of Payroll Irregularities
The Nandi County payroll system has been under scrutiny for several years, with the Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu, raising queries over the county’s irregular employment practices. The recent audit has not only confirmed these long-standing concerns but also highlighted the extent of the malpractices, which had gone unchecked for far too long.
Governor Sang’s firm stance on the matter has been praised as a significant step towards restoring transparency and reducing wastage in the county’s administration. The move is expected to ease the burden on the county’s finances and pave the way for more efficient use of resources for development projects, benefiting the people of Nandi County. An update on the implementation of the HR audit report is expected in due course.
