Counties

Meru County to fire 1,000 casual workers after Deloitte audit

kiraitu

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi on October 20, 2017. Meru County will expunge ghost workers from the payroll and fire more than 1,000 casuals next month. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NMG

The Meru County government will expunge ghost workers from the payroll and fire more than 1,000 casuals next month in a move to reduce wage bill and improve services.

This is after a human resource audit report by Deloitte Consulting indicated there were about 1,783 ghost workers in the county.

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said the county was spending more than Sh15 million every month on 1,030 casual workers.

The administration has, however, retained 45 ward representatives who had been suspended late last year.

"We have received the HR audit report which we intend to implement in piecemeal. We will pay all casual workers whether legal or illegal until January 31 after which we will withdraw their services," the governor said.

READ: Meru County taps Deloitte to flush out ghost workers

Not on payroll

He said some casuals were not on the payroll while others were ghost workers who did not offer any service to the government.

Mr Murungi said all departments will be required to follow due process in hiring casual workers or permanent employees in future.

"The 1,783 workers who did not show up for headcount should present themselves to the public service executive before January 13. Those who do not present themselves for headcount will be removed from the payroll," Mr Murungi said.

He added, "We will not have workers with vague and indefinite contracts."

The governor said rationalisation of the county staff will continue to ensure effective services.