The Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has warned Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya against authorising further withdrawals from the County Revenue Fund until outstanding staff gratuity payments are cleared.
The warning came on Thursday during a grilling session over the Auditor-General’s report on the county’s financial statements for the 2024/25 financial year.
According to the Auditor-General, the county has not paid gratuity to staff whose contracts ended years ago. Records show that the last payment was made on May 9, 2021. The total unpaid gratuity stands at Sh52 million, including Sh26 million owed to staff from the Office of the Governor under former Governor Patrick Khaemba and another Sh26 million owed to staff from other county departments.
CPAC Chairperson, Senator Moses Kajwang’, said the delay of over four years was unacceptable.
“This is unfair,” said Senator Kajwang’. “Officers who have left public service are fully entitled to these payments. You must prioritise this payment.”
Governor Natembeya admitted the county had not paid the gratuity but blamed financial constraints for the delay.
“It is an unfortunate situation. I am aware that we are not paying the money,” he said. “There is no malice. It is just circumstances.”
He explained that past administrations had failed to remit statutory deductions to relevant agencies, resulting in penalties and additional tax obligations that strained the county’s finances.
However, Senator Kajwang’ rejected the explanation, saying gratuity payments are separate from pension contributions and should not be delayed due to past administrative failures.
“Gratuity has nothing to do with pension schemes. It has everything to do with internal inefficiencies,” he said, urging the county to clear the arrears.
Senator Samson Cherarkey added that gratuity is a contractual obligation, not a privilege.
“Gratuity is not a privilege; it is a plan,” he said. “The Governor must roll out a payment plan to clear this debt.”
The Committee instructed the Controller of Budget not to approve any further withdrawals from the county unless Governor Natembeya presents a gratuity payout plan approved by CPAC and the Auditor-General’s office.
Governor Natembeya accepted the directive and promised to allocate funds for the gratuity payments through a supplementary budget.
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