Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang has narrated an unusual incident that occurred during a county audit exercise, revealing how Governor Gladys Wanga’s name unexpectedly appeared among staff records flagged for irregularities.
Speaking during a radio interview, the senator said the incident occurred after an audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) examined employment records within Homa Bay County.
The review identified several workers whose personal and employment documentation was either missing or incomplete, raising concerns about the accuracy of the county payroll.
According to Kajwang, the situation became awkward when Governor Wanga discovered that her own name had been captured in the audit report.
He explained that the governor had initially endorsed the findings of the audit, viewing it as an important step toward cleaning up county finances. However, her position shifted once she noticed her name listed among those with documentation issues.
The senator was quick to clarify that the governor had not been classified as a ghost worker in the traditional sense. Instead, her name appeared under a category of employees whose records lacked complete paperwork, a situation that pointed to possible data entry or interpretation errors rather than fraud.
Following the discovery, questions emerged about the credibility of the report and how the audit data had been processed. Kajwang said the issues raised were serious enough for the report to be recalled for further review and clarification.
Using the incident as an example, the senator highlighted deeper financial challenges facing Homa Bay County, particularly the growing wage bill.
He revealed that salaries and allowances currently consume around 55 percent of the county’s total revenue—far above the recommended 35 percent ceiling.
Kajwang warned that such a heavy wage burden leaves the county with limited funds for development projects and essential public services, ultimately affecting residents.
His remarks come at a time when the Senate Public Accounts Committee is intensifying oversight of county governments nationwide.
Lawmakers are increasingly focusing on issues such as ghost workers, bloated payrolls, and procurement flaws that continue to strain county budgets across the country.
As audits and investigations continue, the senator said counties must strengthen their payroll systems, improve record management, and ensure accountability to protect public funds and restore confidence in devolved governance.
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