Counties adopt technology as most employees start working from home

The crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic could be a blessing in disguise for counties that have moved to adopt technology in running their activities.

A number of counties are already convening virtual meetings to reduce physical contact and crowding in offices as efforts to stem spread of Covid-19 are stepped up.

Kenya had by yesterday recorded 158 cases of Covid-19. Globally, the infections had hit over one million and over 70,000 deaths.

Governors are encouraging employees to work off-site, leaving only staff in essential departments to report to the office.

Those that must hold meetings are doing so with minimal numbers, while others have opted to have them in the open as one way of enforcing social distancing which is key in reducing spread of the disease.

In Laikipia, meetings have gone online with Governor Ndiritu Muriithi holding daily sessions with heads of department.

Doing so, he said, has other advantages.

“I am able to reach officers from Nyahururu, Doldol, Ndindika and other far-flung areas. Having them attend physical meetings would mean using fuel and spending a lot of time travelling,” said Mr Muriithi.

Crucial departments

The county has allowed employees to work from home, save for those in crucial departments like health, water and finance.

Whatsapp groups among members of departments have also come in handy to ensure minimal disruptions to service delivery.

“Working from home is a major change in people’s routines but the staff are adjusting. I am also working from home and holding video conferencing with my executive members,” said Muriithi.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga said revenue officers, cleaners, health personnel and firefighters were operating from the office, while the other employees had been advised to work from home.

He, too, has been holding online meetings with departmental heads and national government officials on preparedness to fight coronavirus.

In Kiambu, the imposed restrictions have had their downside. While the county assembly’s vetting committee approved the deputy governor nominee, it has not been possible for the assembly to sit and give its final say on the matter.

Within the executive, only those in finance, security and roads are expected to report to the office while the rest work from home.

Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Martin Wambora (Embu) are also largely working from home in keeping with government guidelines. The same applies to Meru County where only a skeleton staff remains in office after Governor Kiraitu Murungi ordered non-essential personnel to work from home.

Essential departments like health, garbage collection, municipal board, active roads and energy contractors, disaster management, water, revenue board, enforcement, meat inspection and the Meru call centre have been reporting to work.

Of Kenya’s 47 counties, Nairobi was the first to record the first case of coronavirus. Kilifi was second, after Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi was forced into quarantine after he tested positive. He has since recovered and is facing charges for not isolating himself upon arrival from Germany on March 7.

His diagnosis forced Governor Amason Kingi and county executives into quarantine. Mr Kingi later tested negative. Saburi, the county executives and no less than 100 county officials went into isolation, literally paralysing county operations. 

For nearly three weeks, the county officers have been operating from home.

At the county assembly, a senior Hansard reporter Raphael Rimba said they closed down two weeks ago, leaving only the security guards.

“In case of an emergency sitting, the speaker has to gazette a date. We have not reached that technological extent where sittings can be held via video conferencing and with the huge number of members it cannot work currently,” he said.

Kingi, last week, held his first cabinet meeting via tele link where he approved the Kilifi County Emergency Covid-19 Social Relief Programme to a tune of Sh844 million.

In Nyandarua County, Governor Francis Kimemia has also opted to work with minimum staff at his office. Meetings that require more than 20 people are now held in the open.

Mr Kimemia said the most affected department was that of lands as the issuance of tittle deeds to squatters had been halted.

In Bomet, despite the government’s directive that workers who are not designated as critical or essential service providers work from home, a spot check by The Standard, a week ago, found most employees carrying on with their duties normally.

Breach of directive

Employees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were yet to be released to work from home and were waiting for formal communication.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, however, said workers are encouraged to work from home and only report to the office when necessary.

Director of Communication Ezra Kirui said only directors and chief officers were expected to report to the office with other staff required to work from home.

He said those still reporting to their offices were doing so in breach of the government’s directive.

The county is struggling to maintain revenue collection and has reported more than 50 per cent shortfall following closure of markets in the county.

In Nakuru, the county government scaled down the number of staff working from the office.

A visit to the premises found some of the county offices, especially those offering non-core services, open though with a few employees.

In Baringo, Governor Stanley Kiptis has directed county staff to remain at home except for those offering key services in health, water, fire, enforcement and treasury departments.

County bosses in Nyanza have also resorted to online communication or adopted less familiar modes of holding meetings.

The need for social distancing has made having meetings in the boardrooms almost impossible.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae and County Commissioner Stephen Kehara, last week, co-chaired the County Emergency and Disaster Response Committee meeting under trees at the Kisii Agricultural Training College.

The governor and the county commissioner have been addressing press conferences from outside the county headquarters with a lean staff. Mr Ongwae had two weeks ago sent most of his staff on an indefinite leave.

In Siaya, County Secretary Joseph Ogutu said the governor and his senior officers had scaled down operations and were working from home.

In Kisumu, all non-essential services have been scaled down, with only a few senior staff working from their offices. Governor Peter Anyang’ Ngong’o and his deputy Mathews Owilli are shuttling between their houses and the office.

Nyamira Governor John Nyagaram, has been to the office sparingly when holding cabinet meetings or chairing the county emergency response committee on prevention of the pandemic.

Nyagarama has an executive committee of 10 but since the outbreak of the pandemic he has only been holding sittings with a few members in key departments.

County Secretary James Ntabo, who is also the head of public service in the county, said they had heeded the government’s directive to have all senior workers, aged above 58, proceed on leave.

In Western region, at least 70 per cent of the staff in counties are working from home under strict monitoring of county secretaries and County Public Service Boards (CPSBs).

Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima said: “Kakamega has not scaled down staff but they are on duty. We only requested thoe departments whose staff are not listed as providing essential services to proceed on a 15-day leave.

“However, while at home, they are still performing their duties and file their daily reports with the county secretary and county public service board.”

In Vihiga, County Director of Communication Victor Wetende said health, finance, procurement and communication are some of the departments that are actively operational for now.

He noted the scaling down of staff has immensely affected service delivery but the county is trying to have things up and running, especially in health care.

In Busia, Governor Sospeter Ojaamong said the county had complied with directive from the President that those above 58 years of age must work from home.

Budget making

The only department whose staff are reporting is health. Mr Ojaamong admitted that budget-making process was going to be affected as staff are working from home and the ward reps also adjourned for two weeks.?

In Uasin Gishu, Finance and Planning Executive Julius Ruto said revenue offices have been working on shifts, leading to long queues at the county offices in Eldoret as traders struggle to renew their business permits.

Last week, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang in a Facebook post urged residents to ‘stay home, go to the farm, and keep safe.’

His counterpart in West Pokot, John Lonyangapuo, has been in and out of the office and assented to the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2020, last week.

Trade Executive Francis Kiteleuyan said the county had suspended issuance of business permits, adding that Covid-19 had greatly affected the business sector. 

[Reports by  Jacinta Mutura, Olivia Murithi, Fidelis Kabunyi, Joseph Muchiri, Nehemiah Okwemba, James Munyeki, Kennedy Gachuhi, Julius Chepkwony, Gibert Kimutai, Eric Abuga, Stanley Ongwae,Olivia Odhiambo, Nathan Ochunge and Eric Lungai]