Nearly 20,000 ghost workers who were paid by the government have been exposed by the Public Service Commission (PSC).
According to a commission report, there appears to be an overcrowded public service that is depleting public funds.
According to PSC’s annual report for the fiscal year 2022–2023, there were 19,467 more workers across various departments and agencies of the government than the authorized staffing levels.
Both State House and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) Limited had more than 100 members, while fifteen other organizations were identified as having more than 50% of their suggested staffing number.
The PSC disclosure validates the findings of the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango regarding the disparity in the nation’s spending, wherein 70 percent of budgetary allotments to national and local governments are used for ongoing expenses, such as salary payments, with only 30 percent or less going toward development.
According to a PSC study that monitors public sector performance, 19,467 unauthorized employees were added to the government payroll in the 2022–2023 fiscal year, defying recommendations about staffing levels for ministries and departments. With 12,535 authorized employees, ministries and state agencies had the largest number, followed by public institutions with 2,287 and state corporations with 4,558.
There were fifteen organizations with more employees than needed, and five of them were listed by the commission as having more than fifty percent more employees than what was advised.
The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority had 72% of its workforce, the State Department for Devolution had 61%, the State Department for Higher Education and Research had 69%, the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services had 59%, and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) had 115% of its workforce above the recommended levels.
Six institutions, notably State House and the New KCC, with 483 and 492 employees, respectively, showed significant discrepancies with over 100 more employees than what was listed in the personnel register.
Regarding excess staff numbers, the commission’s recommendations from the previous fiscal year were disregarded by four institutions. KEMSA, the State Department for Higher Education, the State Department for Transportation, and the State Department for Devolution are these.
The overabundance of personnel inside firms led to underutilization of workers, exorbitant salary expenses, and overworked workplace amenities.
Out of 523 organizations, only 21 had created thorough plans for human resource management and development that guide hiring and training.
Since then, the commission has advised that by June 30, 2024, all public organizations create strategies for human resource management and development.
