The number of county employees receiving less than a third of their basic salary more than doubled within a year, reaching 21,647 by June 2024, up from 8,514 the previous year.
The latest Auditor General’s review of county executive payrolls shows the impact of deductions and loan repayments on workers’ earnings.
High lending rates added pressure on employees who had borrowed money based on their salaries.
More counties failed to comply with the legal salary threshold, with the number rising from 30 to 38.
The Employment Act of 2007 sets a limit on deductions, stating that total deductions should not exceed two-thirds of an employee’s wages.
Nandi County had the highest number of affected employees at 3,719, followed by Kitui at 1,909, Meru at 1,707, Kiambu at 1,575, and Embu at 1,366.
An analysis of Nandi County’s payroll showed that thousands of employees had their earnings reduced beyond the allowed limit.
Several counties, including Trans Nzoia and West Pokot, deducted more than two-thirds from some employees’ wages, but the exact number of affected workers was not disclosed.
A review of West Pokot’s payroll data over twelve months confirmed that some employees received less than a third of their basic salary after deductions.
The report concludes that counties failing to meet the legal salary threshold are in breach of labour laws.
