A new report by the Public Service Commission has revealed that over 17,000 “ghost workers” are benefiting from public funds in Kenya, with thousands of nonexistent employees appearing on government payrolls.
These ghost workers, who draw salaries despite not being employed, are costing taxpayers millions.
The report, part of the PSC’s 2024 compliance review, found significant discrepancies across various government agencies, with ministries reporting the highest number of ghost workers. Out of 72,557 registered employees in ministries, only 60,228 were confirmed to be in actual positions, leaving 12,329 individuals on the payroll without a physical presence. Other affected sectors included state corporations, public universities, commissions, and independent offices.
Among the worst offenders were State House, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation , and Kenya Railways, which have repeatedly been flagged for similar issues. In fact, Kenya Railways had 1,261 non-existent workers on its payroll, even though only 2,026 of the 3,287 listed staff members were actually in post. Similarly, KBC had 231 employees recorded who were not in any post, while State House had 156 extra staffers on its payroll.
This issue isn’t new. A 2023 review showed ghost workers were also present in county governments, with Kisii County revealing 1,314 non-existent employees and West Pokot having 2,300. Despite efforts to clean up the payroll system, discrepancies persist.
PSC has directed agencies with mismatched payroll and headcount data to provide explanations for these irregularities. The commission’s report indicates that 67 institutions, including Kenya Railways and State House, showed an unexplained excess of 2,326 workers. Another 103 agencies were found to have 3,354 more workers on the payroll than those actually in post. Conversely, 136 institutions had no such discrepancies, reflecting ideal compliance with payroll standards.
Other institutions, such as Meru University, Kirinyaga University, and the Council of Governors, also reported unexplained excess staff. At the same time, several government departments, including the Water and Energy sectors, showed staffing shortages. Kenya Ports Authority, for example, was found to be short of 4,189 staff members, while Kenyatta National Hospital faced a shortage of 3,108 employees.
These revelations highlight the persistent problem of “ghost workers” within the public service, where employees listed on the payroll either do not exist or are not in actual positions, resulting in wasted public funds. In response, the government has been pushing for reforms, including the implementation of a unified human resource management system designed to eliminate ghost workers. However, discrepancies continue, with hundreds of officers still receiving salaries outside the formal payroll system.
Despite efforts to streamline payroll systems and eliminate ghost workers, some agencies continue to show substantial excess staffing, while others face critical shortages. The PSC’s report serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenge to ensure government payrolls accurately reflect actual staffing needs.
The national government, in collaboration with county governments, is now under pressure to address these irregularities and ensure that taxpayers’ money is used efficiently.
