Ruku has ordered 84 human resources officers to take 30-day leave during payroll investigations.
Public Service CS Ruku orders administrative changes as DCI investigates suspected payroll irregularities in health, police and prisons institutions.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Ruku GK has revoked payroll access for 84 human resources officers over suspected irregularities. He also directed the officers to take mandatory leave for 30 days.
The October 16 directive follows preliminary investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The inquiry concerns suspicious transactions in payroll systems at the Ministry of Health, Kenya Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service.
Payroll access restrictions to support forensic inquiry
Ruku said the measures would allow further forensic investigations into the flagged transactions. Investigators are examining whether those transactions led to a loss of public funds.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes will immediately deploy replacement human resources officers. They will take over payroll management in the three affected institutions.
The changes aim to support the investigation while keeping payroll operations running. The replacement officers will therefore manage those duties during the administrative changes.
Investigators to establish individual responsibility
Ruku emphasised that public officers have a constitutional duty to manage public resources prudently. He also stressed accountability for actions or omissions that result in the loss of public money.
The government said it would take further action against any officers investigators find culpable. However, that action will follow the completion of the investigations.
The withdrawal of system access and mandatory leave are administrative measures. They do not, on their own, establish criminal liability for the affected officers.
The continuing inquiry will seek to establish the nature and extent of the suspected irregularities. It will also determine individual responsibility for the transactions under scrutiny.
