Senator David Wakoli…Photo/IP
When Senator David Wakoli took the floor, the county government officials before the Senate might have mistaken the session for a fire drill — because answers began to disappear fast.
Wakoli, calm but relentless, wanted one thing explained: why over KSh 500 million in gratuity owed to retired county workers has not been paid. Simple question. Complicated gymnastics.
What followed was a masterclass in bureaucratic fumbling.
Figures were quoted, then revised. Dates were mentioned, then “clarified.” Commitments were promised — again — with the confidence of people who have promised the same thing since their first induction workshop.
At one point, Wakoli politely asked whether the county actually knows how many retirees it owes. The silence that followed suggested the figure might be stored in the same place as the missing funds.
The Governor insisted the county had “made progress.”
The Chief Officer spoke of “verifications.”
Another official blamed “historical liabilities.”
None, however, explained why retirees who served for decades are still waiting — some years later — for money that was deducted, budgeted, and ceremonially promised.
Senator Wakoli wasn’t buying it.
He reminded officials that gratuity is not a favor, not a donation, and definitely not a future aspiration. It is a legal obligation. Retirement should not feel like punishment for loyalty.
By the end of the grilling, one thing was clear:
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The money exists — at least on paper
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The retirees exist — very much in real life
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Accountability, however, is still “under processing”
As Wakoli wrapped up, the message landed hard: counties can no longer hide behind jargon while elderly Kenyans chase their own earnings like lottery winnings.
For the retirees watching, the hearing offered rare comfort — not because answers were given, but because someone finally asked the questions the way they should be asked.
