Ghost workers: Migori County extends headcount amnesty

The Migori county government granted a one-day delay to more than 200 workers so they could clear their names and eliminate ghost workers who did not show up for a headcount.

After a week-long exercise that was conducted earlier in the year, the deadline was extended by one day on 6 January, according to County Public Service Executive Caleb Opondi.

The county provided around 3,000 personnel for a headcount for the week ending December 23, and the review is still in progress.

“We also had others who claimed to be absent, ill, or to have never heard of the exercise. Since today is the last day, we offered them another chance, Opondi remarked.

Governor Ochillo Ayacko, who succeeded Okoth Obado, who retired after serving two terms, promised to purge the payroll of ghost employees during his campaign.

About 200 employees failed to show up for work during the exercise, and some of them made the decision to submit police abstracts of their misplaced academic and professional credentials rather as the official examination body receipts, according to Opondi.

He explained that the Friday one-day extension was made to give them a chance to be heard fairly and to provide their own defenses.

Opondi claimed that they conducted a physical count and confirmed the recruiting procedure last month. Analysis of certificates awarded has gained traction, and now includes contacting universities and colleges as well as the Kenya National Examination Council.

“We will clean up the payroll; we already discovered that those who retired, passed away, or may have moved to other jobs were still receiving pay.

“Speaking to the media in his office on Friday, Opondi said the investigation could take two more months after verification, and those responsible would likely face legal consequences determined by the county government and the law.”

The county government has requested the staff members’ letters of appointment, promotion, deployment, appointment confirmation, payment vouchers, identification cards, passports, birth certificates, and academic credentials.