In a decisive move to tighten public payroll systems and curb rampant corruption, the Kenyan government is set to launch a digital attendance-tracking and payroll app designed to eliminate ghost workers and improve accountability across state departments. The groundbreaking system, expected to roll out later this year, marks a bold leap toward digitizing human resource management in the public sector.
According to sources within the Ministry of Public Service, the new app will be linked directly to employees’ biometric data, ensuring that only those physically present at work are eligible for salary disbursements. This technology-driven approach is expected to significantly reduce fraudulent salary payments to non-existent or long-absent staff, a loophole that has cost the government billions over the years.
“Public funds have been bleeding for too long due to ghost workers and poor attendance monitoring. This app is a game-changer,” said a senior official familiar with the project. “It will create a transparent, verifiable record of attendance, ensuring that only genuine employees are paid.”
Each public employee will be required to clock in and out using the app, either through biometric scanning or geolocation features, depending on their station. The app will also integrate performance-tracking features, laying the groundwork for a future performance-based appraisal system.
Already, pilot programs in select counties have unearthed shocking discrepancies. In one county alone, over 200 ghost workers were flagged within a month, prompting immediate action.
While some critics have raised concerns over privacy and implementation logistics, the public largely welcomes the initiative, viewing it as a long-overdue reform. Union representatives are pushing for dialogue to ensure the system is fair and inclusive.
If successful, the app could become a model for other African nations struggling with bloated public payrolls. For Kenya, this could mark the beginning of a more efficient, transparent, and tech-savvy civil service.
