Over a half of Kenya@50 team fired

Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario is in charge of the Kenya@50 Secretariat. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By MWANIKI MUNUHE

Nairobi, Kenya: In what appears to be yet another attempt by the Government to address the wage bill crisis, more than 70 per cent of staff working at the Kenya@50 secretariat have been sent packing.

It is understood that the Kenya@50 steering committee agreed to retain a smaller team to implement the rest of the programmes.

Sports Culture and The Arts Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario confirmed this development, saying it became necessary to take this step to manage the wage bill within his ministry.

Dr Wario said the larger team was only necessary at the initial stages of the implementation of programs because of the frequency and intensity of activities.

The 21 steering committee members have now been reduced to 10 while members of the secretariat have been cut down from 70 to 30.

“When we started last year, we needed a slightly larger team due to the frequency and intensity of activities before Dec 12 but as our focus shifts to legacy projects and activities spread over the year, the steering committee agreed to only retain essential secretariat staff who shall implement the remaining part of the program. This now means that the team shall essentially consist of ten steering committee members, down from 21 and 30 members of the secretariat down from 70.”

Wario, who is also the chairman of the Kenya@50 steering committee, said leaders across government should take tangible steps in managing the rising waging bill which has seen the country spending on re-current expenditure rise to more than the international accepted rate.

“Leaders must take steps to proactively address the wage bill. The re-organisation effectively cuts down on wages and allowances at the secretariat by nearly 80 per cent,” he said.

President Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, cabinet secretaries and head of state parastatals have taken a pay cut.

Wario said the secretariat has been facing many challenges associated with insufficient resources which have subjected it to delayed payments to suppliers.

“The biggest challenge for the secretariat remains the ability to raise enough resources to effectively execute all the programs within the calendar of events,” he said, adding: There have also been some reports of delays in paying suppliers but the secretariat has attributed this delay to some technical and administrative hitches that they claim have since been rectified and have given assurance to their suppliers that payments shall be effected from next week.”

The minister said also the secretariat has planned major activities to raise funds for completion of programmes without having to ask for money from the Treasury.

He also said the Kenya@50 Secretariat and Safaricom have kicked off rehabilitation of Mathare hospital and the Pediatric wing at Kenyatta National hospital.

“I am glad that Safaricom heeded this call and has invested in the renovation of three out of the 14 wards at Mathari mental hospital, provision of beds and office furniture as well as the purchase of laundry equipment. This will indeed go a long way in assisting our citizens who find themselves in the unfortunate situation of mental related illnesses. Both projects were launched by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta earlier this year,” he said

Similarly, the stage has been set for rehabilitation of the Kenya National Theatre at an estimated cost of Sh 144 million.

Key sponsors

The project has been sponsored by Kenya Breweries among other corporate organisations.

Wario further said a major tree planting campaign will soon be launched targeting at least 50 million trees within the next three years.

“This campaign is expected to involve all Kenyans. Organisations such NSSF, NBK, BAT Agha Khan Foundation, Ministry of Environment and the UN are part of the stakeholders that have joined forces with the Kenya@50 secretariat. What better legacy can we leave for future generations than a better, cleaner, greener environment to live in?” Wario posed.

“The secretariat intends to launch a national caravan that shall cover all counties, during which we hope to launch a National Sports festival and promotion bonanza. These activities shall run to December but they are pegged on our ability to raise necessary funds from alternative sources since we do not intend to go back to the public coffers for our Kenya@50 calendar of events. Companies such as Phillips, Zuku, Tuskys, Sovreign group, KCB, Equity and Bidco have expressed interest in partnering with Kenya@50 on numerous programs,” he said.