Health workers, police officers and prison staff are among public servants whose payroll systems are under scrutiny as the government investigates suspected irregular transactions across key state institutions.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku announced on Friday, October 16, that 84 human resources officers had lost access to the payroll system and would be sent on mandatory 30-day leave to allow for further investigations.
The decision came after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) flagged suspected irregularities involving the Ministry of Health, Kenya Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service.
“Following ongoing investigations by the DCI and a subsequent preliminary report that have unearthed irregular transactions in the public service payroll, especially in the Ministry of Health, Kenya Police Service and Kenya Prison Service, I have directed the revocation of payroll system user rights of 84 human resources officers and the implementation of mandatory 30-day leave to allow further forensic investigations of the identified irregular transactions that have potentially led to loss of public funds,” the CS stated.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku gives an announcement during a media briefing, October 16, 2026.
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CS Geoffrey Ruku
Ruku said new human resources officers would immediately take over payroll management in the affected institutions as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the transactions in question.
He added that further action would be taken against officers found culpable after the investigations are concluded.
The latest measures come months after the Cabinet ordered investigations into suspected payroll fraud across ministries, departments, agencies and state corporations.
A forensic audit presented to the government identified suspected irregularities amounting to Ksh6.2 billion in 12 of 53 state departments examined, including unauthorised alterations to payroll records, irregular payments, weaknesses in statutory deduction controls and gaps in oversight.
In response, the Cabinet directed the DCI to investigate the suspected fraud, verify personal numbers used in payroll processing and pursue those found responsible in accordance with the law.
Ruku also ordered all ministries, departments, agencies and state corporations to migrate to the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) to strengthen controls and improve the management of public funds.
In August, the Public Service Commission (PSC) directed government institutions to process salaries exclusively through the official payroll system following concerns about payments made outside the platform.
PSC Chairperson Francis Meja warned human resources managers that they could be held personally accountable for failing to prevent irregular salary payments.
The latest measures come as the National Treasury engages the World Bank on reforms required to unlock funding, including addressing questionable salary payments, addressing suspected ghost workers, and harmonising payroll records across national and county governments.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Principal Secretary Jane Imbunya address the media, October 16, 2026.
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CS Geoffrey Ruku