Cyprian Is Nyakundi has shared details on his official X handle about the ongoing payroll scandal in Marsabit County. The issue revolves around unpaid salaries, ghost workers, and missing payslips, exposing deep-rooted corruption within the county government.
Workers have not been paid since November 2024, yet county officials continue to claim there is no money despite national disbursements being made to all counties.
According to employees, the funds meant for salaries and allowances have been redirected to benefit individuals close to Governor Ali Mohamud Mohamed.
The county payroll system is allegedly manipulated to exclude certain workers from formal records, forcing them into unofficial payment structures. This means many workers are being underpaid, receiving money through vouchers instead of proper payroll channels.
Additionally, they have no access to essential benefits such as insurance, and their missing payslips prevent them from securing loans or credit.Casual workers have been hit the hardest, with some going four months without pay.
Many employees fear that questioning the discrepancies could cost them their jobs, leaving them with no choice but to suffer in silence. The situation is further worsened by allegations that auditors sent to investigate the county payroll office have already been compromised.
Reports suggest that these officials have been offered bribes to cover up financial mismanagement, ensuring that the corruption remains hidden.Beyond the immediate suffering of county workers, the larger impact of this scandal is becoming evident.
Residents of Marsabit have noted that service delivery has deteriorated, with governance now appearing more focused on personal enrichment than public welfare. With frustration mounting, there are growing calls for accountability, but officials remain silent.
Many fear that, like previous cases of financial mismanagement, this issue may be swept under the rug.The voices of Marsabit County workers highlight a serious problem that requires urgent intervention.
Employees are demanding that the payroll system be audited transparently and that those responsible for manipulating salaries and allowances be held accountable.
However, with allegations of bribery already surrounding the audit process, there is little hope that meaningful action will be taken.
The fate of Marsabit’s workers now depends on whether higher authorities will step in or if they will be left to endure continued exploitation under a failing system.
