Last Updated on February 19, 2025 by Turkana County News Online
Lodwar, February 19, 2025 – The Turkana County Government has issued a directive mandating all county employees to adhere strictly to official working hours. This move aims to combat widespread absenteeism and enhance service delivery across the region.
In an official communication from the Office of the Governor, County Secretary Joseph Nyang’a emphasized the necessity for public officers to observe the stipulated working hours as outlined in the Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, May 2016. The manual prescribes a 40-hour workweek, with employees expected to report from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
Nyang’a underscored that all accounting and authorized officers are responsible for enforcing these regulations within their respective departments. The directive seeks to improve efficiency, reduce absenteeism, and bolster overall service delivery to the residents of Turkana County.
“The county government is fully committed to ensuring that its nine-point development agenda is successfully implemented. This can only be achieved if public officers diligently execute their duties and meet their performance targets,” the statement read.
However, this directive comes at a time when county employees are grappling with financial uncertainties due to delayed salary payments. In a letter dated February 12, 2025, the county government acknowledged delays in processing January 2025 salaries, attributing the issue to the National Treasury’s failure to disburse funds promptly. This delay has left many employees struggling to meet essential needs such as rent, school fees, and loan repayments.
The financial strain is not unique to Turkana County. Across Kenya, civil servants have faced similar challenges. In November 2024, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection announced salary delays for all government employees due to the migration from the old manual Integrated Personal Payroll Database (IPPD) to the Human Resource Information System (HRIS). This system upgrade, intended to streamline payroll management, inadvertently led to processing delays, exacerbating financial uncertainties for civil servants nationwide.
