A hair-raising report from the Auditor General for the financial year 2023/2024 has exposed gross financial mismanagement in Isiolo County, with Governor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan (Guyo) at the center of controversy.
The report reveals an alarming wage bill, unlawful appointments, and an unsustainable staffing structure that defies public finance regulations.
Excessive Spending on Salaries
According to the Auditor General, Isiolo County spends Ksh 2,082,321,741—a staggering 46% of its total revenue of Ksh 4,522,730,268—on salaries for its 1,707 employees.
This expenditure exceeds the legally mandated ceiling of 35% for wages and benefits, as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act.
The financial burden of this bloated wage bill raises concerns about the county’s ability to fund essential development projects and provide services to its residents.
With a total budget of just under Ksh 5 billion, the county is already financially strained, making such excessive recurrent expenditure unsustainable.
Unlawful Appointments: 36 Advisors Instead of 4
The Auditor General’s review of payroll and human resource records uncovered an alarming 36 advisors appointed by Governor Guyo—far exceeding the 4 advisors allowed under the guidelines set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
This unauthorized creation of employment positions not only defies legal provisions but also places an undue financial burden on the county’s limited resources.
Inflated Number of Chief Officers
Further scrutiny of the report revealed that the Isiolo County government has 31 Chief Officers, nearly double the legally provided 18 positions under the County Executive Staff Establishment of July 2022.
This figure makes Isiolo the second-highest county in Kenya in terms of Chief Officers, surpassed only by Nairobi, a metropolitan hub with a population exceeding 5 million—compared to Isiolo’s under 300,000.
For perspective, Nairobi’s county budget stands at over Ksh 12 billion, which allows it to manage a larger workforce without overwhelming its finances.
In stark contrast, Isiolo’s under Ksh 5 billion budget is already overstretched, raising serious questions about the county’s financial prudence and governance.
Irregular Deputy County Secretaries
Adding to the list of irregularities, the report highlights that Isiolo County has two Deputy County Secretaries, positions that are not provided for in the official county executive’s staff establishment.
This further underscores a pattern of unauthorized hiring, which could be a drain on the county’s already overstretched financial resources.
Public Concerns and Calls for Accountability
The revelations in the Auditor General’s report have sparked widespread concern among Isiolo residents, with many questioning how the county’s funds are being utilized.
The scale of the financial mismanagement suggests that the rot may be even deeper than what the report has initially exposed.
Analysts and governance experts are calling for further scrutiny, audits, and accountability measures to address these irregularities.
As public outrage grows, there is mounting pressure on oversight bodies, including the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Controller of Budget, to intervene and hold those responsible to account.
The unfolding developments around this explosive report are expected to trigger further investigations, political debates, and possibly legal actions against those found culpable.
We will continue to monitor and report on new revelations as this story develops.
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