Wavinya's big sweep of revenue officers

Swift transfers ordered
 for hundreds of staff

 Hundreds of revenue officers in the County Government of Machakos have been moved in mass transfers in what seems to be Governor Wavinya Ndeti's response to her administration's dismal performance in revenue collection. 

During the last three months, the Controller of Budget reported that the county government only collected 2.5 percent of the projected local revenue, indicting the entire revenue collection strategy of Governor Wavinya.

No reason was given for the dismal performance in revenue collection though it is suspected to be a collection of causes from inefficiency, outright theft, corruption and sabotage.

Yesterday, over 500 transfer orders were distributed to Revenue Officers, Clerks and Accountants. Those moved include newly recruited revenue clerks who are hardly three months on the job. Terse transfer letters filled with individual staff names, staff numbers and designation instructed each of them to report to Sub- County Senior Revenue Officers with immediate effect for processing. The latest reporting date is Friday, January 5, 2024.They should also file handing over notes before departing their current stations.

Each of the officials were given instructions on their precise stations , meaning that the Senior Revenue Officers they are reporting to will not have latitude to deploy them to work stations. 

The transfer letters, fashioned as circulars, are dated December 28,2023 and signed for Mr Mike Jace, the Chief Officer for Revenue Management. It is believed Mike is also widely known as Mr Mike Senga and served under Governor Alfred Mutua who most likely actual substantive designation is Director of Revenue Collection.

Some of the revenue workers do not have staff numbers as manifested in the transfer document, meaning that some issues about their employment are still outstanding. 

Informed sources said though the transfers appeared to target lower cadre officers on the fields, the sweep will be completed with the mass transfer of the officers in charge of each of the sub-counties.

Details of the transfers for the accountants remained scanty and The Anchor is unable to confirm the numbers involved and who was moved to where.

Shock waves hit the staff after it also became evident that  older officers were posted to the furthest sub counties and remote markets even when they have 1-3 years of service remaining.

Those transferred started reporting to their new stations yesterday, some without Staff IDs, the fabled Yellow Dustcoats emblazoned 'Revenue Officers' at the back or even the  electronic revenue collection gadgetry.

Efforts to obtain a comment from  Ndeti's Chief of Staff Mr Lawrence Ngovi did not succeed after phone calls on his line were unanswered.

Critics of the move say the Governor has victimized the wrong people. " She has moved those who collect revenue and left untouched those who raid the coffers. Let us wait and see if her theatric will solve the problem", said   a source privy to the matter.

The source said the problem is endemic in nature as it runs through the revenue organization of the county government where every department collects revenue, creating pilferage opportunities at every level. " Moreover, everyone from the Minister for Finance, Chief Officers, Directors and other senior cadre become revenue collectors at one point or another, creating an organizational overlap that results in lethargy and zero morale levels", the source said.