Garissa Governor Nathif Jama has called on the County Public Service Board to help in managing the ballooning wage bill.
Jama, during the swearing-in of Ahmed Abdinoor as the new chairperson of the board, said the wage bill places a heavy burden on the county's fiscal space, which limits its ability to invest in critical development programmes and essential services for the residents.
“I extend my congratulations to the chairperson on your appointment and I trust that you will lead the board with integrity, objectivity and professionalism. The task ahead is demanding, but also offers an opportunity to right all the wrongs in our public service sector,” he said.
“We are counting on your expertise to help us clean up the system. The wage bill must be managed for the county to deliver services effectively,” the governor added.
Ahmed Abdinoor takes the oath of office as the new chairperson of the Garissa County Public Service Board.
Their work was already cut out, Jama said, calling on the board to take decisive action to reinforce fiscal discipline, implement rational staffing structures and uphold merit-based recruitment and promotions.
“We must strive to ensure that every public servant adds clear value to the delivery of services and that we build a lean, efficient and motivated workforce,” he said.
The event, which was presided over by Garissa chief magistrate Muraguri Mwangi, was also attended by senior county leaders, including Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane, secretary Mohamud Hassan, speaker Abdi Idle and several MCAs.
Abdinoor pledged to undertake comprehensive reforms in the county public service, with a focus on improving efficiency, enhancing transparency and ensuring inclusivity across all regions of Garissa.
He committed to conducting a full human resource audit as a foundation for data-driven reform.
He acknowledged major challenges facing the board—such as political interference, staffing gaps, overemployment and inadequate funding—and assured the governor of his intention to resolve these through structured consultations with relevant stakeholders.
He further pledged to uphold due process in recruitment, aiming to eliminate irregular hiring practices and prevent the cycle of illegal layoffs that has seen the county lose experienced personnel every election cycle.
A seasoned public servant and humanitarian, Abdinoor brings over 40 years of experience in public administration, humanitarian work and governance. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K).
