NAIROBI, Kenya – A Senate report has exposed widespread employment law violations across 36 counties, raising concerns about bloated wage bills, irregular recruitment, and non-compliance with regulations on ethnic composition and salary structures.
The report, tabled by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ on behalf of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, highlights recurring human resource mismanagement, including unauthorized hiring and salary payments that do not comply with legal requirements.
One of the most glaring violations is the breach of the Public Finance Management Regulations, 2015, which caps employee compensation—including salaries, allowances, and benefits—at 35% of a county’s annual revenue.
The worst offenders include Kisii County with wage bill at 60% of total revenue,Mombasa County (57%), and Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nyeri, Murang’a, Homa Bay, and Nyamira (between 53% and 55%)
Such figures indicate that these counties are diverting excessive funds toward salaries, leaving little for development projects and service delivery.
The report also uncovered fraudulent salary payments, with some county employees receiving wages through the same bank accounts, despite having different personal details, including ID numbers and employment numbers.
This practice directly violates the County Public Service Human Resource Manual, 2013, which mandates that salaries be paid into individual accounts.
Further, some county executives have hired unqualified employees, disregarding the County Public Service Board Circular (CPSB), making it difficult to confirm the legitimacy of their recruitment.
The findings fuel ongoing discussions about the sustainability of Kenya’s devolution system.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has criticized the 47-county structure, arguing that it has led to unnecessary government expansion and an unmanageable public wage bill.
He noted that some counties have directors for fishermen, boda bodas, music, and culture, often with multiple deputies, earning substantial salaries despite unclear roles.
“You go to counties, and you will find all kinds of staff; you find directors of fishermen, boda bodas, music, culture directors earning big salaries. We have so many people, and 47 counties are just too much for a country,” Mbadi said during a Citizen TV interview.
Mbadi suggested that Kenya should revert to a maximum of 14 counties—or even 8, arguing that fewer counties could help control spending without sacrificing devolution.
The Treasury estimates that Kenya spends Sh80 billion per month on public sector salaries, with an additional Sh1.1 trillion per year allocated to loan repayments, leaving limited funds for development.
