The Public Service Commission (PSC) has directed all government ministries, departments and agencies to process civil servants' salaries only through the official government payroll system following the discovery of payroll fraud.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

PSC Chairperson Francis Meja announced the directive on Thursday, August 6, during a training workshop for directors of human resource management at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County.

He instructed HR managers to exercise greater diligence in payroll management and ensure that no salaries are paid outside the government's payroll system.

The directive comes just a month after a government forensic audit exposed widespread payroll fraud estimated at Ksh6.2 billion across national and county governments.

📌 What You Need to Know

The audit uncovered thousands of irregular entries, including ghost workers, officers earning double salaries and even individuals listed as having been employed before they were born.

Following the findings, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku formally handed over the comprehensive forensic audit report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for a probe.

Meanwhile, Meja said the PSC's 2024/2025 compliance report found salaries paid outside the official payroll, while a government audit uncovered anomalies in 12 state agencies.

"You are called upon to be diligent in your job and ensure that you don't just sign off the payroll without ascertaining the accuracy and probity of the information," Meja said.

He warned heads of human resource management that they would be held personally accountable if they failed to prevent irregular salary payments or neglected their oversight responsibilities.

He further criticised delays by ministries, departments and agencies in implementing PSC decisions, saying the slow pace undermines reforms aimed at strengthening accountability in government.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke