FRAUD
The Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes has launched a nationwide crackdown targeting corrupt human resource officers involved in manipulating payroll systems, irregular promotions, and illegal tax exemptions. Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, speaking in Embu over the weekend, warned that those found culpable would face immediate dismissal and prosecution under the law.
According to Ruku, a recent audit of the public service revealed widespread malpractice, including altering birth dates to extend service beyond retirement, facilitating tax evasion for select individuals, and inflating the public wage bill through irregular promotions. He described these actions as gross abuses of office that undermine meritocracy, transparency, and fairness in the civil service. Those involved will be prosecuted and face the full force of the law, Ruku said, emphasizing that such conduct will no longer be tolerated.
To address these issues, the ministry will work closely with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other agencies to investigate rogue HR officers at both national and county levels. The crackdown also targets ghost workers, irregular allowances, and payroll fraud, aligning with President William Ruto’s broader agenda to entrench integrity and accountability in public service. Ruku urged all public servants to uphold professionalism and internalize constitutional principles of transparency, accountability, and commitment to the public good, declaring: It is time for public servants to be part of the solution, not the problem.