Turkana County Launches Wealth Declaration Exercise for Public Employees
The Turkana County government has initiated a significant exercise requiring all public employees to declare their wealth. This initiative, known as the Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities, is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability among county officials. All public officers are required to manually submit their completed forms by November 28. Failure to comply may result in being removed from the payroll.
Key Details of the Wealth Declaration Process
The County Public Service Board has taken the lead in implementing this process. The board’s chairperson, Peter Ingollan Ekunyuk, emphasized the importance of this exercise, stating that it is a legal obligation for all public officers. He highlighted that the goal is to collect accurate information about the financial status of employees, which will be used for verification and analysis.
Ekunyuk mentioned that teams of trained officers have been deployed across departments and subcounties to distribute the forms and conduct sensitization sessions. These sessions aim to guide staff on how to accurately fill out their returns and meet the deadline.
Turkana County currently employs over 4,500 people, and the board has made it clear that all employees must take this exercise seriously. The declaration process involves three phases: form distribution, collection and verification, and analysis. Each phase will be accompanied by continuous sensitization to ensure that all officers understand what needs to be declared and how to complete the forms correctly.
Past Non-Compliance and Current Status
During the previous wealth declaration exercise, 273 officers failed to comply with the requirements and were subsequently removed from the payroll for several months. As of now, 45 officers are still yet to comply. Ekunyuk urged full adherence to the current process, emphasizing that non-compliance could result in fines and other penalties as prescribed by law.
Simon Ipoo, the principal administrator of the board, issued a warning to staff about potential fraudsters who might pose as authorized officers during the process. He reminded employees that only authorized personnel would issue and collect the forms. Ipoo noted that in the past, unscrupulous individuals have attempted to exploit unsuspecting staff. To prevent this, the board has circulated letters to departments notifying them of the exercise and urging officers to report any suspicious activity.
Staff Perspective and Next Steps
Collins Nakesio, representing the staff, commended the board for conducting an informative session. He stated that the session clarified expectations and improved awareness among the staff. Nakesio expressed confidence that the sensitized staff are now ready to fill and submit their forms. He added that he plans to submit his form within the week.
Importance of the Wealth Declaration Exercise
The wealth declaration exercise is conducted every two years and applies to all public officers. It requires the disclosure of income, assets, and liabilities accumulated during the period. This process is crucial for maintaining transparency and preventing corruption within the public sector.
This initiative not only serves as a tool for accountability but also helps in identifying discrepancies in financial disclosures, thereby promoting good governance. The board’s efforts to educate and sensitize staff are essential in ensuring the success of this exercise.