20,000 ghost workers found in gov’t payroll as PSC unmasks departments with excess staff

A report by the commission, has flagged what is seemingly a bloated public service that is draining public coffers. 

In the annual report covering the 2022/2023 financial year, PSC established that there were 19,467 additional employees in different government agencies and departments against the approved staffing levels. 

State House and the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) Limited had an excess of over 100 members each with 15 other organisations listed as having more than 50 per cent of its recommended staff establishment.

The PSC revelation confirms reports by the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango on mismatch in the country's expenditure, where 70 per cent of budgetary allocations to both national and county governments is spent on recurrent expenditure, paying salaries, with a meagre 30 per cent or less spent on development. 

A report by the PSC, which tracks the performance of the public sector, revealed that in the 2022/2023 financial year, 19,467 unauthorised staff were added to the government payroll against the recommended staff establishment to ministries and departments. Ministries and state departments accounted for the highest number at authorised staff at 12, 535 followed by state corporations at 4,558 and public universities at 2,287. 

15 organizations had excess staff with the commission listing five that had over 50 per cent additional staff over and above their recommended staffing level. 

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) had 115% staff over and above the recommended numbers, National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority at 72%, State Department for Devolution at 61%, State Department for Higher Education and Research at 69% and the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services at 59%.

Six organizations had high disparities with an excess of over 100 staff compared to what was in the staff register, these including State House and the New KCC at 483 and 492 respectively.

Four organizations were listed as having defied the commission’s recommendations in the previous financial year regarding excess staff levels. These are, KEMSA, the State Department for Transport, State Department for Higher Education and the State Department for Devolution.

The excess staff in the establishments resulted in underutilisation of staff, bloated wage bills and strained workplace facilities. 

Only 21 organisations out of 523 had developed a comprehensive human resource management and development plans which inform recruitment and training.

The commission has since recommended that all public organisations develop human resource management and development plans by June 30, 2024.