Over 3000 employees in Vihiga County offices risk losing their jobs after a headcount exercise which was ordered by Governor Wilbur Otichilo revealed that the County had excess workers. According to reports, Vihiga County has 4500 staff surpassing the required number of 1300.
While addressing journalists at his office, the Vihiga Governor decried the increasing number of staff which is a big burden for the County.
Otichilo said the County spends 80% of the money it gets from the treasury on salaries at the expense of development, a situation he said must be addressed urgently.
“We have a bloated county staff of 4500 people which is a big number to sustain. Most of the County funds which we get from the national government are channeled to the recurrent expenditures,” decried Otichilo.
In order to address the situation, the Governor said he has sought the services of the Director of Personnel to carry out the forensic audit of all County staff. He said the headcount that he ordered was done to give a baseline on the number of those employed by the County government.
He said they will use the report of the personnel audit which will be tabled in the assembly for approval to reduce the workforce. He noted that the County Government had no proper structure to manage the running of the County and that is why a few people messed by irregularly employing people.
“I have invited the services of Director of personnel to carry out the audit of all county staff so that we can rectify the situation. The former regime had no proper structural management that is why they irregularly over employed staff,” said Otichilo. The Vihiga Governor said the County staff should not exceed 1320 employees.