Despite being the only project seemingly flourishing under the Jubilee regime, a lot is happening behind the scenes at the Huduma Centres that could see the noble project collapse.
The problem at the award-winning project are deep rooted, affecting mostly suppliers and employees.
Staffers at the secretariat have not been paid for the month of October, with some having been locked out of their homes but still come to work, Kahawa Tungu has learnt. Staffers in other departments, even those in scandals are paid promptly, unlike those in the Huduma Centres.
Also, allowances to conduct any outreach or work related travel take months or even a year to be paid back.
Read: Safaricom ‘Stealing’ From Mpesa Users Who Buy Airtime For Subscribers With Okoa Jahazi Debt
Our sources further intimates that staff members have no insurance and no public servant NHIF cover.
“At the centres, because of delayed payments for suppliers like cleaning companies , cleaners who already earn peanuts go for months in arrears, some sleeping in centres because their houses have been locked,” says our source.
Most suppliers are paid after a year while others haven’t been paid for two years now. As compared to other departments in the ministry such as NYS, Uwezo, Youth Fund, suppliers are paid within three months.
“For a program wining awards left right centre it is a shame that it is so financially neglected and may be facing a bleak future. Maybe when it goes under is when the government will pay,” laments our source.
Huduma centres serve as a one-stop shop for services such as application for national ID cards, National Social Security Fund, business permits, driving licences, registration of companies and processing of birth certificates.
The first Huduma Centre was launched at Nairobi’s Teleposta Towers four years ago but has since expanded to other parts of the city with plans to set one in each of the 47 counties.
Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com Also WhatsApp 0708677607 with your news tips
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
