Jama defends human resource audit, says it's meant to bring sanity

Garissa governor Nathif Jama on Monday defended a move to carry a human resource audit saying that it was meant to bring back sanity to governance.

Speaking in Masalani town, Jama who did not directly talk about the issue said the exercise has good intentions.

“We have also moved quickly to streamline other administrative aspects of our government with the objective of making our people trust the intentions of their government. Of course, it is understandable that a few of the steps taken by us on certain critical issues have been unsurprisingly controversial,” he said.

“However, all of us in our deep inner recesses would appreciate that these are inevitable so as to bring back sanity to governance matters at our county,” the governor added.

The findings that were made public by Governor Jama after a two-month audit exercise were met with claims from some leaders and activists who accused the governor of arbitrary sacking of county employees.

The audit showed that the county government employed more than 130 top-level staff without degree certificates.

It further showed that the county hired directors and their deputies who did not have the mandatory academic papers to head the dockets.

Also, 1oo people were hired as drivers yet there are only 12 vehicles in the county transport department.

During the press briefing, the governor said 3,500 people have been earning salaries both in the IPPD and in excel sheet payments for casual workers.

The case was taken to the Labour and Employment court in Nairobi  which subsequently stopped the verification exercise.

The county was also ordered to pay the affected persons a three months salary pending hearing and determination.

The governor said that even though he was yet to fully put together county government structures, his administration was fully focused to sorting out the basic needs of the people like healthcare provision and water.

He lauded the county assembly which recently approved  the supplementary budget describing it ‘ broad-based budget which covers almost all aspects of our developmental requirements’.

“Depending on how quickly we will be getting funding from the exchequer, we are determined to embark on the quick implementation of the budget objectives so that we undo the circle of stagnation that has gripped our county in the past few years,

“Despite a myriad of challenges and issues, the county presents great opportunities to turn our perceived weaknesses into strengths and to offer solutions for now and the future. The task ahead may be daunting, but by the grace of Almighty Allah and with your support, we shall overcome," the governor said.