The Government has reiterated that it will not tolerate the abuse of public payrolls, which has led to ghost workers and unqualified promotions, resulting in the loss of billions of shillings every year.

 The commitment comes after the Government started a nationwide headcount of public officers, following reports that more than Sh6 billion is lost annually through ghost workers.

 Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Geoffrey Ruku said the State will not tolerate leakages in the national government payroll system.

Ruku, who was addressing human resource professionals at their annual conference in Naivasha, said anyone found culpable of distorting the payroll will face the full wrath of the law.

The CS challenged HR officers to entrench the highest ethical standards and trust to curb leakages and boost productivity in the public service, to ensure better delivery to Kenyans.

 “When HR professionals abuse their trust, through ghost workers on the payroll, jobs sold for a fee, or promotions handed out to friends and relatives, it is not just an organisation that suffers but productivity in public service,” said Ruku.

To boost productivity, the CS said the Government is seeking to transition from headcount to productivity, from activities to outcomes, and from effort alone to measurable value.

 He called on HR professionals to support their organisations to set clear targets, measure performance objectively, reward officers who deliver, and deal fairly and constructively with those who do not.

  Ruku said there was a need for continuous skills development, and urged officers to set aside adequate training budgets to cope with a rapidly changing environment, including artificial intelligence.

 He said human capital development must become a shared responsibility, backed by clear commitments and verifiable results, and urged HR officers to establish time-bound targets and review progress regularly.

The CS said Kenyans’ skills, training and certificates must meet international standards to ensure the Government’s plan to secure jobs abroad is achieved in measurable terms.

He said HR officers must ensure that locals employed in the expanding jobs market, in both professional and technical areas, meet the skills required.

Ruku noted that, according to Central Bank of Kenya data, Kenyans working abroad sent home US$5 billion (sh650) last year, showing growing demand for local skills.

He added that a quality Kenyan workforce is needed as the country and businesses take up the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, a market of more than 1.3 billion people.

 “Our local professional standards must be among the best on the continent, and certificates must be trusted wherever they are presented in the region and on the international stage,” said Ruku.

He noted that HR professionals must ensure local youths with the necessary skills get jobs, citing the Dangote East Africa Petroleum and Petrochemicals Special Economic Zone, which is expected to create up to 60,000 direct and indirect jobs.

by Erastus Gichohi and Beatrice Wanjiku