Nandi Governor Stephen Sang has suspended payroll officers to allow investigations into alleged irregularities in the payroll management system.
Governor Sang’s move comes after a damning comprehensive audit report on human resource personnel practices and staff payroll.
The report done by a technical team from the Public Service Commission concluded that some individuals in the Nandi County Public Service Board and the payroll unit have been colluding to issue irregular and fake appointment letters.
Sang indicated that fake appointment letters obtained through fraudulent means found their way into the payroll system.
The Governor has vowed to implement fully the PSC recommendations as part of his commitment to ensure the prudent use of public funds and tame the runaway wage bill.
This is as per the recommendations of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission during the Third National Wage Bill Conference in April this year.
Sang challenged affected officers possessing irregular appointments to visit the complaints desk set up in every department and explain how they got the fake letters.
“We are going to implement this report fully and anybody who in one way or another played a role in this flawed process will have to face the consequences,” Governor Sang said.
“We have people who moved two, three, four job groups in one year while some have stayed in the same grade for more than eight years and have never been promoted,” he said.
Sang said the level of disparity and impunity that was perpetuated during the period in question will be addressed.
The Governor said all the affected departments with appointment letters received un-procedurally and fraudulently have been expunged from the payroll.
He notified the public the procedure for appointment to any position within the County Public Service Board can only be filled upon declaration of a vacancy, advertisement, application, shortlisting and thereafter interview and appointment.
Sang said the Nandi County Government has referred the matter to the Director of Criminal Investigation for further action.
“Individuals who obtained appointment letters illegally, un-procedurally and fraudulently are under police investigation for fraud, bribery and related offences,” Governor Sang reiterated.
This was as he read his Press Statement at the county headquarters grounds on Thursday afternoon while flanked by Deputy Governor Yulita Mitei.
He said disciplinary action has been initiated against those found responsible including recovery of funds the county government may have.
In a quick rejoinder, Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei said Sang’s move has come late and should have been done the first time he came to office.
The County Government of Nandi wrote to the Public Service Commission requesting assistance in conducting a comprehensive audit on human resources, personnel practices and staff payroll in March this year.
The PSC handed over the report to the Nandi County Government in mid-August which revealed glaring inconsistencies in the number of staff receiving hardship allowance, manipulation of integrated payroll and personnel database among other gaps.
