The Senate is seeking to introduce firm legal limits on how many chief officers a governor can appoint in a bid to address rising wage bills and unchecked hiring in counties.

In a report tabled before the Senate, the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee recommends amendments to the County Governments Act, 2012, to define both the minimum and maximum number of chief officers each county government can have.

This is aimed at stopping governors from exploiting legal gaps to make excessive appointments that continue to weigh down county budgets.

“The committee recommends an amendment of the County Governments Act, 2012, to clearly provide for the maximum and the minimum number of county chief officers to be appointed in any county government,” the report reads.

The committee, chaired by Wajir Senator Mohamed Abass, proposes a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 22 chief officers per county. These officers act as accounting officials in their respective departments and are the closest equivalent of Principal Secretaries in national government.

The proposed changes come amid concerns that some county bosses have appointed as many as 30 chief officers due to the absence of legal restrictions. The report reveals that this practice has contributed to a ballooning wage bill, leaving less money for development and other essential services.

The committee has also recommended new timelines for filling vacant positions of County Executive Committee members and chief officers to avoid prolonged leadership gaps in counties.

Currently, Section 45(1) of the County Governments Act requires that governors nominate qualified candidates within 14 days of a vacancy, based on competitive recruitment by the County Public Service Board and approval by the county assembly. However, this process is often ignored or delayed, affecting the smooth operation of county departments.

The Senate committee’s proposals were informed by findings from a governance inquiry in Garissa County. The report cites Governor Nathif Jama’s administration for appointing a record 30 chief officers while failing to appoint key department heads on time.

“The county government has since appointed a total of 30 chief officers, while the county executive committee members are 10 in number,” the report states.

According to the committee, such overstaffing increases financial pressure on counties already struggling with low revenue and high debt burdens.

“The huge number of county chief officers places an unsustainable burden on the county’s wage bill,” the report warns.

The proposed changes could face resistance from some governors, many of whom prefer having a free hand in structuring their governments. But senators argue that controlling the number of top officers is necessary to improve accountability, avoid wastage and prioritise service delivery.

If passed, the reforms could help streamline county administrations, reduce duplication of roles and free up more funds for development.