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.

A middle-aged woman who is suspected of fatally stabbing her boyfriend in the Chianda market in Rarieda, Siaya County, is being held by police.

Esau Okoth Onduru, the assistant chief of East Katweng, claims that the late Vincent Odiyo was stabbed in the stomach during a fight with his girlfriend.

After being whisked to the neighboring Odede dispensary, Bondo Sub County Hospital was referred for Odiyo. Upon arriving, it was determined that he had passed away.

Since then, police have been to the homicide scene, which is a home that Macrine Akinyi Omil, the deceased’s alleged lover, rents.

After finding a kitchen knife soiled with blood, they went to the mortuary at Bondo Hospital to look over the victim’s body.

Omil will be held in the Aram police station while the authorities wait for the results of the postmortem.

President William Ruto has issued a warning to education authorities who demand money from parents while claiming that the government has not yet allocated education funds.

Speaking on Sunday at a Thanksgiving ceremony in Busia County, Ruto claimed to be aware of the unethical practice of some officials to demand school money from parents even if it has been covered.

According to him, the government has given Ksh. 60 billion in capitation to all educational institutions in the nation, together with Ksh. 10 billion in bursaries, to enable students to receive an education wherever in the country.

Ruto stated that his administration has raised the number of teachers working at various institutions and that many more will be hired, all the while reaffirming the government’s commitment to bolstering access to education across the country.

The Ministry of Education claims that the government of Kenya provides free primary education.

But in boarding schools, every student receives a stipend from the government. Parents cover the boarding costs associated with the various school locations and their classifications.

On January 3, the State Department for Basic Education received Ksh. 4.74 billion from the National Treasury to support free primary education for Term 1.

Furthermore, Ksh.7.6 billion was paid to the State Department as junior secondary school (JSS) capitation.

Additionally, Ksh. 2.8 billion was distributed by the Treasury to cover the costs of school exams and invigilations, and Ksh. 16.2 billion would be used to fund free-day secondary schools for the first term.

Similarly, Ksh. 192 billion was given to TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) institutions on January 17.

According to Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Esther Thaara Muoria, the funds would be used to assist the institutions’ ongoing costs of tuition, supplies for training, utilities, and extracurricular activities.

“Hear this from me because these people will stop this ill behavior because the government has disbursed the money…I want to tell those managers in the education sector not to take advantage of parents on false accounts of the government having released no money,
We have released Ksh.62 billion to our primary and secondary schools, Universities, TVET institutions, including Ksh.10 billion in bursaries to our MPs so that even children from vulnerable families can go to school” said Ruto.

Yesterday evening, in Yatta, Machakos, police seized a vehicle that was allegedly carrying donkey meat.

The vehicle was reportedly transporting the carcasses of twelve donkeys to a market in Nairobi.

At the Kwavonza Trading Center in Katothya Village, Kanyonyo Sublocation, Machakos County, the vehicle was intercepted.

In addition to finding animal (donkey) offal and guts, police at a homestead apprehended two individuals. A third suspect got away with it.

“After receiving information from the public, our police responded. Two persons are in police custody, but the mastermind managed to escape, according to Yatta OCPB Ben Baraza.

The police claimed that the car contained donkey meat that had been properly packaged for the Nairobi market.

On Monday, 22nd, the accused will be arraigned in the Kitui court.