The Ministry of Education will be the first to undergo a payroll system overhaul as part of the government’s effort to eliminate ghost workers, National Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi has announced.
He noted that 32,000 ‘ghost teachers’ are still receiving salaries after an audit of the Ministry’s payroll revealed a discrepancy between 230,000 teachers listed on the payroll and the 198,000 who could be accounted for.
CS Mbadi highlighted that the education sector has been burdened by cases of deceased teachers remaining on the payroll for years without removal, an issue that has led to significant financial losses, draining funds meant for legitimate staff and public service improvement.
He said that the upcoming payroll overhaul will involve biometric verification of all employees, stricter auditing practices, and a modernized payroll management system aimed at preventing further fraud.
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The initiative is expected to recover millions in misappropriated funds, which can be redirected to critical areas such as teacher welfare and infrastructure development.
The CS noted that the overhaul is part of a broader government strategy to tackle corruption and improve accountability across various sectors. If successful, the reforms will be expanded to other ministries to ensure greater transparency and financial responsibility in public service.
By Jane Riana
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