Audit unmasks unsuitable staff in county

By ERIC WAINAINA

Kiambu, Kenya: Kiambu County Assembly Service Board may have violated the law while employing some assembly staff, an audit by the Public and Investment and Accounts committee has revealed.

The damning report in form of a statement to the assembly said that in some instances the board hired people whose academic qualifications did not correspond with those placed in newspaper adverts.

On November 18 last year, the board advertised for the position of public relations officer with the requirements being a minimum of a degree in public relations, social science or equivalent and an experience of seven years.

But it hired a diploma in broadcast journalism and certificate in photography holder, the report said.

The board employed an administrative officer with certificates in counselling psychology, investigation prosecution and social work, despite having advertised for a holder of a diploma in public administration, social science or equivalent, with at least seven years experience.

The audit was conducted after Ngewa Ward Representative Karungo Thangwa asked for a statement, claiming some workers were fraudulently employed and that the number was too high, considering the county wage bill.

He sought the total number of employees, including partisan, the nature of recruitment, including dates of employment as well as job descriptions, date of advertisement and whether there were any positions that were not advertised for and qualifications.

The statement read to the House by Phillip Mubea (Kawaida) and who is the committee chairman said the board employed a huge number of staff than what the assembly had asked for in the advertisement.

According to the advert, the board was to employ four assistant clerks but the statement said 10 office people were hired. Two were to be employed in the Hansard department as per the advert but three people were picked. But even with the damning report, Karungo said the statement was not satisfactory since it did not touch on other crucial details.