The County Government of Siaya has moved decisively to break a payroll stalemate that has delayed salaries for hundreds of employees, many of whom have continued reporting to work without pay. In a coordinated push, the County Executive is fast-tracking payroll verification, Unique Personal Number (UPN) allocation and reactivation, and full onboarding onto the national Human Resource Information System (IHRIS).
An internal memo dated 3rd June 2026 from Acting County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo directed the urgent processing of UPNs in compliance with a national directive from the National Treasury, Controller of Budget, and Ministry of Public Service. The exercise targets approximately 900 new employees without UPNs and 1,322 staff on short-term contracts (casuals), who require the unique identifiers for salary processing.
During an Executive meeting, officials emphasized the need to resolve all outstanding salary issues before the end of the financial year. The County Executive directed affected workers to immediately update their records and submit required documents within the stipulated timelines. Casual employees were specifically instructed to secure payroll numbers and upload necessary supporting documents, including birth certificates and authority letters.
Required Documents and Process
For new UPN allocation, employees must submit:
- National Identity Card
- KRA PIN Certificate
- Birth Certificate
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Contact email and telephone number
For UPN reactivation, the list includes:
- National Identity Card (both sides in colour)
- Birth Certificate
- KRA PIN Certificate
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Clearance Certificate
- Contact email and telephone number
All documents must be scanned as clear, legible PDFs (with identity documents in colour). Employer-side requirements include a formal request letter to the State Department for Public Service, authority to recruit from the County Public Service Board (CPSB), funding confirmation from the County Treasury, and a signed, searchable list of appointees. Any inconsistencies in documentation will require an affidavit.
The Directorate of Human Resource Management has set up a help desk to support employees facing challenges. A dedicated WhatsApp platform has also been established, with contact persons Mr. Fredrick Muga (0725511103) and Mr. Kennedy Otieno (0717038680) available for assistance.
During an earlier meeting on 26th May 2026, the administration set 10th June 2026 as the deadline for the issuance of payroll numbers and 18th June 2026 as the deadline for the immediate processing of all staff currently on manual payroll. These staff are to be integrated into the June 2026 payroll, together with the payment of all arrears owed for the unpaid months of March and April.
Progress updates shared during the meeting indicate that 125 employee records (particularly from Agriculture and Municipality departments) whose previous numbers had not been uploaded have now been updated. However, 136 employees are still required to submit authority letters to finalize their verification.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Administration, Hon. Walter Okelo, will work closely with the Chief Officer for Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Jack Odinga, to fast-track these outstanding documents while regular progress reports will be issued through the Acting County Secretary’s office.
County officials expressed confidence that the combined verification, UPN processing, and IHRIS onboarding drive, supported by the help desk, will quickly unlock the payroll system and ensure employees receive their dues.
Industrial Action Concerns
The meeting also addressed grievances from nurses who had planned industrial action over the delayed salaries. Health workers will be required to sign return-to-work forms following the session. Broader efforts are underway to standardize employee information across the county in line with national government policies, aiming to prevent future payroll disruptions.
The initiative was discussed in a meeting attended by County Executive Committee Members, including Mr. Joseph Rading (Governance, Administration and ICT), Eng. Eric Odawa (Roads, Public Works, Energy and Transport), Prof. Jacqueline Oduol (Water, Environment, Climate Change, Irrigation and Natural Resources), Dr. Kut Ochogo (Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture), Willis Ochieng' (Agriculture, Livestock, Food Security and Blue Economy), and Chief Officer for Health Dr. Samuel Omondi Owino.