CS Kuria announces biometric registration of public servants to 'chase away ghosts'

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has announced plans to launch biometric registrations of all public servants to rid the government of ghost workers.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the CS noted that the country is lagging behind in getting rid of ghost workers despite its pious nature.

“As we accelerate our prayers to exorcise ghosts, the Ministry of Public Service will embark on biometric registration of all the 900,000 of us who are paid by the taxpayers, including (in the) counties,” affirmed CS Kuria.

 “As a country that is very religious, we are not doing very well in chasing away ghosts. This country is full of ghosts. We are paying ghost civil servants, ghost teachers. We are spending capitation on ghost students. We are sending cash transfers to ghost elderly citizens.”

Additionally, the CS asserted that plans were underway to conduct a payroll audit.

This comes after, last month, the Public Service Commission (PSC) flagged 19,467 ghost workers from different government departments and agencies.

The commission flagged the State House and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) among the many organizations with excess employees.

The PSC attributed the upsurge in ghost workers to bloated wage bills, underutilization of staff, and strained workplace facilities.