The management of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology is on the spot after revelations it could be spending millions every month on salaries for non-existent staff.
The latest report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu shows that 854 ‘staff’ are drawing salaries from the institution but lack crucial validation documents.
They include KRA PIN, NSSF and NHIF numbers, thus casting doubt on the existence of the lot drawing hefty salaries every month.
According to the report tabled in Parliament last week, 44 people captured in the payroll as staff do not have KRA PIN, a requirement for all staff to enable the taxman deduct taxes.
Some 50 others have “erroneous’ KRA PIN numbers, raising concerns the lot could be ghost workers draining the university coffers.
The report shows that another 520 staff lack National Social Security Fund numbers and 240 others National Hospital Insurance numbers.
“In the circumstances, I am unable to confirm existence of effective payroll controls and governance in the management of public resources,” the report reads in part.
Besides, the auditor indicted MMUST management of the perennial delays to remit deductions to NSSF for staff whose details are properly captured in the payroll.
According to the report covering the period ending June 30, 2020, the institution paid Sh32.11 million in penalties due to late remittances, putting to risk the lives of the staff.
“The penalties relate to the years 2008 to 2019. This is contrary to Section 19 (4) of the Employment Act, 2007 which requires employers to remit amounts deducted during the period are made,” the report says.
Further, Gathungu put the Kakamega town-based university on the spot for irregular engagement of 1, 160 part-time lecturers.
Contrary to the established policy, the institution did not provide supporting documents such as advertisement for recruitment of the part time tutors.
“Further, the university did not comply with the Part-Time Staff Management Policy requirements on course allocation where departmental heads and part time teaching staff were allocated more than three courses per semester,” the report says.
MMUST has also been put on the spot over skewed ethnic composition of its staff contrary to the established laws.
The report shows that more than two-thirds of the workers come from the dominant ethnic community in the country.
“During the year under review, the total number of employees at the university was 951 out of which, 646 (68 per cent) of the total number were members of the dominant ethnic community,” the report says.
The auditor also faulted the university for failing to account for some Sh9.92 million it declared to have spent on fuel during the period.
“Fuel consumed worth Sh3.73 million was not supported with documents such as motor vehicle work tickets and detail orders,” the report.
Gathungu also said the institution did not authenticate provision amounting to Sh22.48 million for bad debt. There were no schedules to support the provision for bad debt.
“In the circumstances, the accuracy, completeness and validity of provision for bad debt of Sh22.48 as at June 30, 2020 could not been confirmed,” the report states.
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