The Registrar General Department is being accused of splurging on bosses’ cars with funds intended for workers’ unpaid 2023 allowances.
Furious employees allege that funds earmarked for their long-overdue allowances were instead diverted to settle other bills, including the purchase of official vehicles for senior officials. The controversy stems from a national mobile registration exercise conducted in 2023, for which staff are still awaiting their full payment of US$120 per day.
The government’s commitment, which would have seen each worker receive approximately US$3,600 for the three-month blitz, has yet to be honoured. In a letter from the Treasury dated February 2024, the Finance Ministry acknowledged the outstanding debt to the workers, citing financial constraints as the reason for the delayed batch payments.
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Registrar General Department Accused Of Splurging On Bosses’ Cars With Workers’ 2023 Unpaid Allowances
The situation reached a boiling point when employees became aware of an internal memo from the Registrar-General himself, Henry Machiri. Dated 12 June 2025 and addressed to the Secretary for Home Affairs, Raphael Faranisi, the letter explicitly requested authority to reallocate the US$1.1 million originally designated for the staff allowances.
The funds were intended to settle what Machiri termed “pressing commitments,” including payments to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Impala, and for “motor vehicle plates for directors.”
For the workers, this was the final insult. One disgruntled employee, who wished to remain anonymous, captured the collective sentiment, stating, “It is a slap in the face. They can find money for new cars for the bosses, but they cannot pay us for the work we did over a year ago. We have families to feed.”
Registrar-General Denies All Allegations
When approached for comment by this publication, Registrar-General Henry Machiri vehemently refuted the claims that any money had been misdirected. He questioned the authenticity of the request and placed the responsibility for payment squarely on the National Treasury.
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“Did I sign that letter with a pen?” Machiri quizzed. “I assure you, no funds were diverted. Our funds for salaries are not used for anything. You can check with the chief accountant. No workers’ funds were used for something else. You know how government operates. Funds are released by Treasury. If Treasury releases funds, they will get their dues.”
Attempts to obtain a statement from Secretary Raphael Faranisi were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly in a meeting at the time of contact.
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