Gov't to embrace Personnel Identification system to weed out ghost workers

The Cabinet has resolved to implement radical measures aimed at weeding out ghost workers in government, a move expected to save the country millions of shillings siphoned through an exaggerated wage bill.

During the first full Cabinet meeting after the swearing-in of the reconstituted Cabinet, the meeting chaired by President William Ruto acknowledged that several government offices are flooded with ghost workers who continue to receive millions of taxpayers' money in salaries and allowances.

In a Cabinet dispatch sent to newsrooms, the Cabinet approved the implementation of a unified personnel identification system to eradicate 'ghost worker' payroll fraud across all levels of government, including constitutional commissions.

This comes after the Auditor General and the Controller of Budget recently termed the ballooning wage bill in the country as unsustainable.

A report by the Public Service Commission (PSC) flagged what appears to be a bloated public service draining public coffers.

In the annual report covering the 2022/2023 financial year, the PSC established that there were 19,467 ghost workers in the national government, including 12,535 in ministries and their departments, 4,558 in state corporations, and 2,287 in public universities. State House alone, where the Cabinet met today, reportedly has over 100 ghost workers, according to the PSC report.

The Cabinet further resolved to establish a legal and institutional framework for mandatory and continuous vetting of all public officers, centralizing wealth declarations under a single office across the government.

To expedite the conclusion of corruption cases through timely investigation and prosecution of corruption and economic crimes, the Cabinet approved amendments to relevant statutes such as the Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code to ensure that corruption cases are concluded within six months.

As Kenya transitions to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the scope of existing programs such as Edu Afya will be broadened to encompass all school-going children, extending beyond its current focus on secondary school students. This decision was also ratified by the Cabinet on Tuesday.

In the UHC transition, the Linda Mama program will be expanded to not only cover prenatal care but also provide comprehensive postnatal care, ensuring a holistic approach to maternal and child health.

The Cabinet noted that, to date, the Hustler Fund has disbursed Ksh.57 billion to Kenyans, with at least 2 million customers now regular daily borrowers.

To expand financial inclusion, the Cabinet directed the rollout of a third product offering specifically focused on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector. This new product will initially target the 2 million beneficiaries who have demonstrated a strong credit history with the fund.