It’s time taxpayers got value for money

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru (left) witnesses Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga, assisted by Julius Wadenya of Ernst & Young, register during the launch of Biometric Data Registration in Kusumu in late September. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

The easy part—conducting a countrywide biometric registration of civil servants—is over. Let the hard part—matching qualifications and experience of employees with their job assignments and conducting credible investigations to bring the perpetrators to book—begin.

All too often, demands for salary increases have eclipsed debate on whether the hapless taxpayers get value for money. Hence, attempts to improve productivity in the public service are welcome.