Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has set aside Sh1 Billion to lay off 70 percent of county workers who have attained 55 years.
The plan is meant to reduce the enormous wage bill by offering early retirement to any of the willing over 14,000 county workers who are over 55 years.
Reports indicate that so far approximately 1,000 employees have agreed to voluntarily retire on condition that they are adequately compensated.
“A big number of the workforce is aged and that is why we have set money aside to convince them to take early retirement.
"They will, however, do so at will and no one is being forced to retire,” stated Sonko on Tuesday.
He added that most of the workers are aged 55 years and above and are either semi-skilled or unskilled.
A report by the county assembly’s finance and budget committee earlier this year also indicated that only 240 county workers are professionals.
It had recommended that the county avoid hiring and replacing staff until the expenditure on wages and salaries drop to 32 percent in the 2020/21 financial year.
Sonko said the current workforce has people inherited from the national government, those whose functions were devolved, and those who were newly employed by the former administration.
The county government plans to introduce a biometric data system which will capture the details of both new and old county workers.
Sonko emphasised that the system would help flush out ghost workers, if any, and cut the amount that goes to payment of salaries.
The Kenya County Government Workers Union branch chairman, Boniface Waweru, supported the idea of early retirement of members on condition that they receive their benefits.
He said given the fact that the set retirement age is 60 years, he was confident most of the members would accept voluntary retirement.
“It is up to an individual to choose whether they will leave before they reach the age of 60, but I am positive that most of my members will take the retirement package on condition it is inclusive of their benefits,” stated Waweru.
