Treasury Orders Counties to Use New Payroll System to Eliminate Ghost Workers

The National Treasury of Kenya has directed counties to process April salaries through a new system designed to eliminate ghost workers.

The new payroll system will process all county payrolls for April in an attempt to root out ghost workers from public service and increase responsibility in the system.

In a circular sent to county administrations, the Treasury affirmed that the system would complement ongoing reforms to close gaps in payroll.

This will improve the processing, which has led to the wastage of public money through spurious payment of salaries.

All counties must strictly adhere to the new instruction with immediate effect to facilitate April payroll processing.

The officials said that the system would authenticate employees on a real-time basis.

Ghost workers and county payrolls

“The system is supposed to verify all legitimate employees and pay them instantly to avoid payment to nonexistent personnel,” one official from the Treasury said.

The system will promote transparency, strengthen monitoring, and encourage responsible spending of public funds across counties.

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The move responds to long-standing concerns about ghost workers in county government payroll systems.

The Office of the Auditor-General has previously raised concerns over poor financial management in the payment of county staff.

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Enhancing transparency in public fund management

These reports cited non-existent employees and ballooned wages for staff in different counties.

National Treasury orders that Counties must cooperate or face administrative action.

The department has also deployed several technical staff to provide assistance to the counties throughout the process.

The government has undertaken this as part of an initiative to improve public finance.

This will ensure the management is effective and restore trust in public resource management.

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Council of Governors, led by chairperson Ahmed Abdullah, during a press briefing in Kilifi
PHOTO/CoG/X