Key loopholes in county payrolls

County governments are losing millions of shillings through systematic payroll manipulation, excessive hiring, and the payment of ghost workers.

This has been revealed in new reports by the Auditor General.

The special audits on payroll management for all 47 counties are covering the 2021-22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 financial years.

The reports expose potential widespread fraud and mismanagement.

They detail cases where county workers share bank accounts, receive allowances they do not qualify for, and falsify their birth dates to delay retirement.