Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has sent county officials on indefinite compulsory leave ahead of a financial and human resource audit.
He said the move will ensure good service delivery and weed out ghost workers.
"We shall do our best to make Meru great. We want to ensure clean, efficient, and effective civil service that will deliver," he said on Tuesday.
Among those sent on leave are county executives; chief officers; as well as subcounty, ward and town administrators.
"Our government has decided to carry a special finance and human resource audit to establish the status of county affairs and remove any rot in the system.
"We have formally requested the Auditor General to carry out the financial audit and he assured us that this will begin immediately," the Governor added.
He was speaking to the press in his office in Meru town.
Kiraitu said the audit will also involve the Public Service Board, and the human resource audit will establish actual numbers of employees on contract, casual and on permanent basis.
"It will enable staff turnover including entries, exits, confirmations, promotions, demotions, skill audit, competency and integrity audit," he said.
The incoming Governor claimed the county used Sh15 million per month on salaries and has at least 5,000 workers, which is a strain on the budget.
Kiraitu suspended the county Public Service Board chair Gichunge Mwambia, and Francis Kithure, saying they are illegally in office despite a letter from the EACC authorising former Governor Peter Munya to remove them.
He said his administration will undertake a thorough audit of all contractors and revenue systems to seal loopholes and get value for county funds.
"Legal action will be taken against any contractor found to have colluded with county government officials to steal public funds and they will be blacklisted from any future contracts with the County," he said.
Kiraitu maintained that there will be no witch hunt in carrying out the exercise. He assures staff that they will be treated fairly and professionally.
Last Friday, Kiraitu assured county workers that he will not target them and told the outgoing governor he will not take revenge on him.
Munya has disputed poll results saying Kiraitu's win was computer generated.