The government will on Tuesday, jULY 7, unveil a raft of measures aimed at cracking down on payroll fraud within the public service, targeting human resource managers implicated in manipulating government payroll systems.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the reforms are intended to root out payroll irregularities and hold accountable officers found to have orchestrated the fraudulent schemes.

“You know it is my duty to ensure that the public service sector is in line. In this regard, on Tuesday, this starting week, we will be issuing a raft of measures as a ministry on how to tackle the issue of payroll fraud,” stated CS Ruku.

He made these remarks while attending a church service at Full Gospel Church, Gatunduri, Embu County, on July 5, which was graced by President William Ruto.

📌 What You Need to Know

CS Ruku said the government will take legal action against all those found culpable in the payroll fraud, adding that the administration is committed to safeguarding public resources and restoring integrity in the public service in line with the stipulations of the constitution.

"We have very strict instructions from the President on how the public service should operate and to ensure that no public funds are lost through salaries and other emoluments as a result of payroll manipulation. We must actualise Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which provide for the national values and principles of governance and public service," he said.

The CS specifically targeted Senior Human Resource Managers, whom he blames for the rot within the public service. According to him, their conduct has slowly eroded efficiency, leaving the sector worse off than before.

“You know there are some criminals within the public service sector who have infiltrated the payroll system of the government of Kenya, and some of them are Senior Human Resource Managers, and we have their details, and we will take necessary measures,” stated CS Ruku.

“I have very strong instructions from the Cabinet and our head of state on how to deal with this menace, and from Tuesday, the country will bear witness of some of the actions we have in store.”

The announcement comes at the back of the discovery of a Ksh6.2 billion payroll malpractice across government state departments during a comprehensive payroll audit, and the findings were officially made public on June 30.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke