The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee has been told by the National Lands Commission (NLC) that  Regional Offices based in the counties are facing an acute shortage of staff.

The Committee chaired by Hon John Mbadi (Nominated) was told that despite the Commission decentralizing its services to counties as a way of bringing services closer to the people, however, this goal has not been achieved due to staff shortage.

The NLC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms. Kabale Tache Arero told the Committee that officers in charge of the county offices were straining because they had been allocated one member of staff to work with thereby hindering their efforts to deliver better services to clients.

"We have serious challenges of staff in our county offices. Most officers in charge of the offices do not have adequate staff to help in serving people who seek services. As a result our offices are not productive enough," said Ms Arero.

The CEO made these remarks when she appeared before the Committee to respond to audit queries from the audited financial books for the Financial Year 2021/2022.

The report tabled before the Committee revealed that the Commission was operating on a staffing level that is below the approved establishment.

"The Commission has approved staff establishment of 1,216 against 548 staff in post, resulting in an overall under establishment of 668 employees as at 30th June, 2022," the report read in part.

"In the circumstances, failure to recruit and retain the optimal number of employees may hinder the effective delivery of services by the Commission," the report further said.

In her response the CEO told the Committee that the Commission was unable to hire the required number of staff because of financial constraints occasioned by low budgetary allocation.

However, she noted that the Commission is in the process of employing 51 new staff after it was allocated money by the National Treasury.

"It is worth noting that the situation will gradually improve upon continuous budgetary provision by Parliament and the National Treasury," she explained.