The Kenyan government has launched the Unified Human Resource (UHR) system in order to remove 20,000 ghost workers from its payroll, according to the local media.
The UHR integrates HR and payroll data and it is connected to the Kenya Revenue Authority's iTax system, along with other deductions such as pension funds and employee contribution plans.
"The system will consolidate human resources and payroll data in the public service for access through a single warehouse," the brief from the National Treasury seen by the local newspaper read.
By July, all state agencies and businesses, commissions, and independent offices will be connected to the system, the local media reported.
"The government intends to roll out the UHR system for the entire public service by July 2024. The rollout of the UHR will be carried out in phases," the document reportedly stated.
The Controller of Budget's report for the period up to March 2023 indicated that payments made outside the approved payroll totaled Sh 5.7 billion ($40.3 million).
The Public Service Commission recently revealed that its investigation uncovered 20,000 fictitious employees on the public payroll. It further instructed state agencies to conduct audits of their registers to determine the causes of the discrepancy between the number of employees and the number of positions filled, according to the report.
The country's President William Ruto's administration plans "continue to transform the public service sector to make it more responsive to people's needs."
The country's President William Ruto's administration plans "continue to transform the public service sector to make it more responsive to people's needs."
Kenya's neighbor, Uganda, is also trying to optimize its spending. Recently, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni asked parliamentarians to approve the merger of more than 30 government agencies, stating that it will result in annual savings of approximately $262 million for the country.
Moreover, Matia Kasaija, the nation's Finance Minister, said that he wouldn't borrow indefinitely to "mortgage the country" by financing endless financial demands, many of which may be deferred or even canceled.