Probe launched on ghost workers
Nandi County Governor Cleophas Lagat. Lagat has asked the Public Service Board to streamline the civil service and introduce performance contracts in all departments, which he said were losing Sh216 million yearly. PHOTO / FILE
What you need to know:
- Doctors and nurses had gone on strike, claiming that irregular payments were being dished out to non-existing workers.
A special committee has been formed to investigate claims that ghost workers are siphoning Sh18 million in irregular payments from Nandi County’s health department every month.
The county assembly is investigating the allegations by doctors and nurses, who went on strike last week claiming that irregular payments were being dished out to non-existing workers.
Governor Cleophas Lagat asked the Public Service Board to streamline the civil service and introduce performance contracts in all departments, which he said were losing Sh216 million yearly.
“More than 300 ghost workers were found in the Ministry of Health in Nandi County. The county cannot afford to entertain such ghost workers,” he said.
QUARTERLY REPORT
The striking health workers, who have since resumed duty after they were paid outstanding arrears last Friday, pointed out that the ghost workers emerged after health services were devolved.
County Assembly Speaker Edwin Cheluiget confirmed they had received the health workers’ complaints and had formed a special team to look into the issue.
Mr Cheluiget said the county assembly had also received a quarterly report from the Public Service Board, which “raised crucial issues which the assembly will also investigate and act upon.”
The issues raised include that several staff were on study leave and yet were being paid full salaries. He said they would summon executive secretary for health Mathews Rotich and other top officials to shed light on the issues.
