Kakamega county has commenced a head count of its staff weeks after Governor Fernandes Barasa took office as the second governor.
A notice by the county secretary and head of the public service James Ochami to all heads of departments said the exercise begun on Wednesday across all the 12 subcounties.
“The county has scheduled to conduct phase one of human resource audit for its entire staff with effect from Wednesday October 12, 2022,” read the notice dated October 11.
“You are therefore requested to inform staff in your departments that the head count exercise shall take place at their respective subcounties starting from 8am,” the notice reads.
All staff are expected to carry with them original copies of their national ID cards, letters of appointment, letter of latest promotion, academic and professional certificates and pay slips.
Panic has gripped the county staff following the audit after word went round that a major shakeup could be in the offing to reduce the county's ballooning wage bill.
Barasa fired three county executive and two chief officers on October 1 in his initial move to reorganise his government.
In the changes, Barasa also moved the county head of supply chain management John Koveti to the county micro-finance as CEO in an acting capacity.
Koveti’s deputy Joseph Bushuru has been moved to social services, sports, youth, women empowerment and culture as a stadium manager.
While addressing MCAs during an induction retreat in Mombasa on September 27, Barasa asked the county assembly service board to conduct a thorough audit of the assembly staff to ensure optimal use of human resources for the benefit of the people.
He said the service board should review the assembly's organisational structures against existing staff establishment for efficient service delivery.
He said the assembly is ranked position 46 out of 47 in general performance due to poor or lack of proper systems of financial management and internal controls.
-Edited by SKanyara
