Audit Flags Hundreds of Retirees Still Drawing Salaries in Eight Counties

Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has revealed that hundreds of retired county government employees in eight counties continue to draw salaries and allowances despite reaching mandatory retirement age. The findings appear in the audit report for the financial year ended June 30, 2025.

The affected counties are Bomet, Garissa, Isiolo, Samburu, Nyeri, Migori, Nyamira and Embu. Retired staff remain on active payrolls without proper justification, exposing weaknesses in human resource and payroll systems.

Embu County recorded the highest number with 76 employees still in service as at May 30, 2025. Bomet had 27 workers who received about Sh3 million during the review period.

Isiolo County showed 33 employees and four advisors above 60 years earning a combined Sh3.7 million in June 2025. Garissa retained five officers, while Migori had 26 cases. Nyeri reported 15 and both Nyamira and Samburu had two each.

Public Service Commission Regulations set the mandatory retirement age at 60 years, or 65 for persons with disabilities. Most cases in the audit involved staff without such exceptions or specialised skills. Counties failed to provide supporting documentation for continued employment.

These irregularities inflate county wage bills. They divert resources away from core development priorities such as roads, housing, water projects and other infrastructure works that depend on consistent public funding.

Construction stakeholders in the counties monitor such audit findings closely. Persistent payroll leaks reduce available budgets for capital projects and can delay contractor payments on ongoing schemes.

The Auditor-General has called on accounting officers to account for the irregular payments and take corrective action, including possible recovery of funds. Stronger payroll verification and routine human resource audits are recommended to prevent recurrence.

County assemblies and national oversight bodies are urged to enhance scrutiny. Previous audit reports have flagged similar anomalies, yet compliance remains patchy across devolved units.

The issue forms part of broader concerns over county expenditure management. Wage bills continue to consume a large share of recurrent budgets since devolution began in 2013.

Affected counties are expected to respond during parliamentary review of the report. Officials will need to explain the lapses and outline steps to clean up payroll records.

For the construction sector, reliable public finances are essential. Irregular spending on salaries undermines timely delivery of infrastructure that supports economic growth at the county level.