The Ministry of Public Service has ordered an extensive cleanup of the public payroll system after uncovering a web of corruption involving human resource officers who manipulated staff records, granted illegal tax exemptions and irregularly promoted civil servants.
Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the audit that triggered the investigation exposed deep-seated malpractice and collusion in HR departments across government offices, warning that those implicated would not only lose their jobs but also face criminal prosecution.
He noted that some officers had deliberately changed employees’ personal data, including birth dates, to unlawfully extend their service beyond the legal retirement age.
“These actions are not only illegal but a gross abuse of office that compromises fairness, transparency and meritocracy in the civil service,” Ruku said.
The audit also uncovered incidents where select individuals were helped to evade taxes through unauthorized exemptions, leading to massive loss of public funds.
“We have identified disturbing trends where certain HR officials are helping individuals evade taxes and manipulate official records to remain in service illegally. Those involved will be prosecuted and face the full force of the law,” he warned.
Ruku said the report further revealed cases of job group manipulation, where civil servants were rapidly promoted without following due process, creating pay disparities and inflating the national wage bill. He said the scheme demoralised officers who had worked diligently but were overlooked due to systemic favouritism.
To curb the malpractice, the Ministry has partnered with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and other investigative agencies to identify, investigate and punish those responsible.
“We will be working very closely with the EACC to ensure taxpayers’ money is protected and that the public service becomes a model of merit, not a haven for corruption,” Ruku said.
He said investigations are ongoing in both national and county governments, targeting ghost workers, falsified promotions and unauthorized allowances. The move is part of a broader government effort to entrench accountability and integrity within public institutions.
“The President is very passionate about the war on corruption, and as Cabinet Secretary, I am fully aligned with that vision. We will clean up the system and restore dignity to public service,” he said.
Ruku maintained that the ministry would act decisively against anyone found guilty of tampering with payroll systems or misusing public resources.
“The government is coming for you. If you are involved in these irregularities, you will lose your job and be prosecuted,” he warned.
He called on public servants to uphold ethical values and professionalism, urging them to live up to the principles outlined in Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution on integrity, accountability and dedication to public good. “It is time for public servants to be part of the solution, not the problem. Let us restore credibility, trust and efficiency in our public institutions,” Ruku said.