Elgeyo-Marakwet County vows to root out ghost staff

Umeme board chairman Patrick Bitature and Umeme MD Charles Chapman during the listing of the company’s share at the NSE last year. Photo/File 

By PHILEMON SUTER

In Summary

• The county administration has raised concerns over ghost workers in the health sector with the number of employees alleged to be in ministry pay-roll but were nowhere to be seen in the local hospitals.
• Other than the health sector, former local government workers whom have now been moved to the county governments and ministry of Agriculture have been singled out to be the most ravaged with ghost workers.

The County Government of Elgeyo-Marakwet has announced plans to carry out a major head count of civil servants in all the devolved ministries so as to weed out ghost workers and reduce the stretching wage bill.

The county administration has raised concerns over ghost workers in the health sector with the number of employees alleged to be in ministry pay-roll but were nowhere to be seen in the local hospitals.

Deputy Governor Gabriel Lagat said it was disheartening that some individuals were in government employment but were illegally out of their stations and instead operating private businesses elsewhere.

“The biggest and worst theft one can commit is stealing paid up time and coming for pay slip at the end of every calendar month, “said Dr Lagat.

Addressing the press at Iten County government offices, the deputy governor said the County Public Service Board which was mandated with the task would make an elaborate communication to all the workers ahead of the exercise so that everyone would avail themselves at all the work stations.

Gideon Kipyakwai, the chairman of the Public Service Board singled out other ministries that were awash with ghost workers saying the audit would not spare the culprits.

Other than the health sector, former local government workers whom have now been moved to the county governments and ministry of Agriculture have been singled out to be the most ravaged with ghost workers.

“Our core objective as a public service board is ensuring we have the right people that competently deliver their obligations to the citizens,” said Mr Kipyakwai.

The county government also pointed out disparities among health workers that were believed to be undermining service delivery. Employees on contractual terms and those in permanent terms working in the same facility were a source of concern in the health department.

“We have health workers that serve in the same facilities but are not entitled to hardship allowances while their colleagues who underwent similar training enjoy such benefits. It is these disparities that discourage the individuals from working,’’ said Dr Lagat.

Iten District Hospital, Chebiemit and Tot sub district hospitals were singled out as having ghost workers and these disparities. “We are going to address these issues so that we can start demanding services to the public from the facilities,” said the deputy governor.

But authorities in the health facilities mentioned, downplayed the allegations of ghost workers saying, blame rested with the national government.

“About ghost workers, I may not confirm or deny but I would say these cases could perhaps be desertion of duty over alcoholism and have been addressed through the appropriate means,’’ said James Agiruga, the Iten District hospital medical superidentant.