The National Government has announced a salary increment for civil servants across the country effective this July, with Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku saying the increase will benefit only genuine public officers on the government payroll.
The Cabinet Secretary affirmed that the salary increment will only be extended to verified public officers as the government rolls out a centralized and tamper proof Human Resource System (HRS) to weed out ghost workers and seal payroll loopholes.
Ruku explained that the centralized Human Resource System will enhance payroll integrity across Ministries, State Departments, State Corporations and other public institutions by strengthening employee verification, promoting accountability and eliminating payroll fraud.
Speaking during the Kipkelion East Constituency Academic and Prize Giving Day at Londiani Boys High School in Kericho County, Ruku said the reforms follow a government payroll audit that uncovered widespread irregularities, including illegal salary payments, duplicate employee records and weaknesses in existing payroll management systems that enabled ghost workers to remain on the public payroll.
“The salary increment this July will only benefit genuine civil servants. Ghost workers have no place in the government payroll under the centralized Human Resource System,” stressed Ruku.
He noted that the reforms are part of the government’s broader efforts to improve efficiency in public service and ensure prudent use of taxpayers’ money.
Ruku further announced that the government will construct a Huduma Centre in Kipkelion East Sub County to bring essential government services closer to residents.
“The Huduma Centre will enable residents to conveniently access services such as national identity cards, birth certificates, driving licences and other government services without travelling long distances.” explained Ruku
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet Secretary joined Kipkelion East Member of Parliament Joseph Cherorot in laying the foundation stone for the construction of the Londiani ICT Hub.
He said the hub will strengthen digital infrastructure in the Sub-County and create opportunities for innovation, digital skills development and employment among young people as the country continues to embrace technology driven development.
Cherorot added that the ICT hub will equip young people with digital skills and position them to take advantage of opportunities in the digital economy.
The legislator said education remains the greatest equalizer and challenged learners to remain disciplined and focused in pursuit of academic excellence.
“I congratulate all the students who have excelled in academics and co-curricular activities. We are recognizing your efforts to motivate you to work even harder because education changes lives,” said Cherorot.
The MP further announced that a 340-bed capacity hostel will be constructed at Kimasian Technical and Vocational College to accommodate trainees, while construction of 567 affordable housing units will soon commence in the sub county.
Kericho County Commissioner, Omari Ali, called on parents to play a greater role in guiding and counselling their children to become responsible members of society.
He also urged residents, especially the youth, to maintain peace, unity and lawfulness as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Meanwhile, Kericho County Director of Education Julius Ngoneshi lauded the area MP for supporting education through academic prize giving ceremonies, saying the initiative had contributed to improved academic performance and learner motivation.
Ngoneshi said Kericho County has 2,433 public learning institutions across all levels, with Kipkelion East Sub County accounting for 377 public schools.
He observed that schools within the constituency had not recorded cases of unrest and urged parents to work closely with teachers in instilling discipline and good moral values among learners to avert indiscipline cases in schools.
by Kibe Mburu
