A government payroll audit has uncovered suspected irregular payments, including cases where some employees allegedly received multiple salary payments, prompting a nationwide fraud investigation.
Billions Under Investigation
A major government payroll audit has exposed suspected irregularities worth KSh 6.2 billion, triggering a criminal investigation into possible payroll fraud across public institutions.
The findings have prompted the Cabinet to direct the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate those behind the suspected manipulation of government payroll systems.
Employees Allegedly Paid More Than Once
According to the audit, investigators uncovered several payroll anomalies, including:
- Multiple salary payments made to some individual officers.
- Suspected ghost workers receiving salaries.
- Unlawful salary increments.
- Unauthorized alterations of employee records.
- Shared bank accounts linked to different employees.
- Fraudulent tax exemptions and irregular promotions.
These findings have raised concerns about weaknesses in the government’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS-K).
Government Orders Immediate Action
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has ordered all public institutions to migrate to a centralized and tamper-resistant human resource system to improve payroll integrity and eliminate fraud.
Institutions that fail to comply risk disruptions to salary processing as the government moves to strengthen oversight and prevent future abuse.
DCI Launches Investigations
The DCI has officially begun investigations into the suspected payroll fraud. Authorities say the probe will seek to identify individuals responsible for manipulating payroll records, recover any public funds lost through fraudulent payments, and recommend prosecutions where evidence supports criminal charges.
What It Means
The payroll scandal has renewed debate over accountability and public financial management. If the audit findings are confirmed, the reforms and investigations could lead to significant changes in how salaries are processed across government institutions.